As the Catholic Church approaches the pivotal conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis, various factions within the Church are expressing their concerns and preferences for the next pope. Cardinal Müller warns that electing a liberal pope could lead to a split within the Church, stressing the importance of choosing an orthodox successor. Meanwhile, discussions around potential candidates are heating up, with the German Catholic laity advocating for continued reforms and fearing that a new conservative pope could jeopardize these efforts. As the conclave nears, the internal divisions within the Church regarding issues such as Islam and LGBT rights are becoming increasingly pronounced, with some cardinals calling for a return to traditional values.