The late Pope Francis, who died Monday morning – Photo Credit: Irish Examiner
The world mourns following the Monday morning news, April 21, of the passing of Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Dr. Jonathan Tan, the Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan Professor of Catholic Studies, is already busy reflecting on the legacy of the inspirational late Pope and discussing what comes next. As one can imagine of such a groundbreaking individual, there is much to discuss.
Dr. Tan was interviewed live on Singapore’s Channel News Asia (CNA) 938 News’ morning report with Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng, Tuesday, April 22, 2025 (Singapore time). He again appeared live with representatives from John Carroll University on Ideastream’s Sound of Ideas Wednesday morning, April 23, 2025, to speak on Pope Francis’ passing and legacy for Cleveland and beyond. The segment, “Northeast Ohio Catholics mourn Pope Francis and discuss his legacy,” is available in both video and audio formats.
He published an op-ed in UCANews, “Conclave will reflect Church’s new-found global orientation: Pope Francis sowed the seeds for the internationalization of the papal office itself” (April 24, 2025), focuses on how Pope Francis has transformed the papal conclave which will elect his successor, and what this means for the Papacy going forward. Dr. Tan also appeared on BBC Newsday with Steve Lai (TV) on Thursday, April 24, 9 PM (Friday, April 25, 9 AM Singapore time) to talk about Pope Francis’ legacy and the 2025 papal conclave.
Closing out the week on Friday, April 25, he was quoted in two major news outlets, USA Today, “As Pope Francis’ funeral nears, fascination with papacy’s rituals take center stage,” and Time, “What to Know About the Vatican’s Relationship With China—and What the Next Pope Means for It”
Dr. Tan expands upon his recently discussed topics in an op-ed in UCANews, “The future of Vatican-China relations beyond Pope Francis,” in which he considers the task at hand for the next pope to build on Pope Francis’s progress in Vatican-China relations, particularly the 2018 bishop appointment accord, to ensure the Catholic Church’s continued growth and unity in China. With the 2025 Papal Conclave eminent, he analyzes predictions of the next pope and what to consider for each candidate in his latest op-ed for UCANews, “Choosing the next pope after Francis.” Amid the anticipation, on the evening of Tuesday, May 6th (Wednesday, May 7th Singapore time), his expertise is again called upon in two Singapore morning news segments, BBC Newsday with Steven Lai and Singapore’s Channel News Asia CNA 938 radio news morning report, “CNA938 Rewind – Holy smoke: Who will be the next pope?” with Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng, both of which focus on the papal conclave, issues, and frontrunners.
Following the early May announcement of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, The People’s Reporter featured a column by Dr. Tan titled, “Remembering Pope Francis: A Pope for the World and Asia,” (May 10 -24, 2025). This 9th issue of the 38th volume centered largely around the late Pope. The People’s Reporter is a weekly periodical and available through an annual subscription.
Prior to these events, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a papabile and one of the frontrunners for pope in the 2025 papal conclave, cited Dr. Tan’s work on mission theology and his paradigm of “missio inter gentes” — which is the subject of his second monograph — Christian Mission Among the Peoples of Asia (Orbis Books, 2014) in Cardinal Tagle’s keynote address on April 12, 2025, renewal in the Church through the mission (PIME Asia News, April 13, 2025), to the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (Pontificium Institutum pro Missionibus Exteris, PIME) on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of its foundation.
This page will be updated as more events and information become available, so stay tuned!
Dr. Tan continues to share his expertise following the announcement of the new Pope Leo XIV.
