Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Sweden, long considered a possible successor to Pope Francis, has stated that he does not expect to be elected at the upcoming conclave. The 75-year-old Cardinal shared his thoughts in an interview with Swedish public broadcaster SVT, emphasizing the improbability of his election. “It would be fun to have a Swedish pope, but I think it’s pretty unlikely. Highly unlikely,” Arborelius said.
Arborelius, who made history in 2017 as Sweden’s first-ever cardinal, is also known as the first Catholic bishop in the country since the Protestant Reformation over 500 years ago. Although Sweden remains one of the most secularized nations in the world, Arborelius converted to Catholicism at the age of 20.
In his interview, Arborelius confirmed his participation in the upcoming conclave but revealed that he had asked Pope Francis to release him from his cardinal duties. His request stems from his desire to return to his monastery in southern Sweden, a decision the pope has approved, although no end date for his tenure has been set. Arborelius expressed his uncertainty about the situation, saying, “So now I’m left hanging a little.”
Arborelius, a former Carmelite monk, is known for his strong stance on Church doctrine, particularly his opposition to women becoming deacons or blessing same-sex couples. Like Pope Francis, he advocates for the welcoming of migrants into Europe, including Christians, Catholics, and potential converts.
