Elijah Smith, a former Lutheran and Southern Baptist who converted to Catholicism a year ago, was influenced by Pope Francis’ teachings on social justice and inclusivity towards marginalized groups. With Francis’ death, the Catholic Church faces a decision on whether to continue on a progressive path or return to traditional roots. The church has a history of traditional Mass in Latin, but the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s aimed to modernize rituals by conducting Mass in local languages and including laypeople in services. However, Pope Benedict XVI relaxed restrictions in 2007, allowing for the celebration of Latin Mass to return. The question now is whether the church will maintain the inclusivity and openness promoted by Francis or revert to a more conservative stance. Smith praised Francis for his acceptance of the LGBTQ community, immigrants, and different cultures, and his leadership by example. The future of the Catholic Church remains uncertain as it navigates conflicting desires for modernization and tradition following the death of a pope who championed social justice and inclusivity.
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