When a pope dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals meets in a closed-door process known as a conclave to elect his successor. This centuries-old ritual is cloaked in secrecy, but its outcome affects more than 1.3 billion Catholics around the world—and countless others impacted by the church’s global influence. The last three popes have all covered up clergy sex abuse. We cannot afford a fourth. Yet most Catholics know little to nothing about the 137 men who will make this decision. Conclave Watch is working to change that.

We are examining the records of the “Princes of the Church” to understand how they have responded to abuse allegations in their dioceses, religious orders, and curial positions. Where evidence warrants, we are filing formal complaints with the Vatican to demand investigations into their role in covering up abuse. This section of our site features the results of our ongoing research. It is not a comprehensive list—yet. As our work continues, we will add more profiles. We invite survivors, whistleblowers, and anyone with relevant information to contact us and help ensure that the next pope is someone who can credibly commit to zero tolerance, truth-telling, and justice.

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