Method
About and method
What Conclavoscope measures, how the scores are established, and what they do not say.
The project
Launched before the conclave of May 2025, Conclavoscope followed the election of Leo XIV. It is now devoted to the College of Cardinals over time: who belongs to it, who votes, and which sensibilities are expressed within it. The aim is to inform, without predictions or activism.
Elector or non-elector
Under the constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, only cardinals who have not reached 80 on the day the See becomes vacant may enter the conclave. On this site, status is recalculated at every update: a living cardinal who is not pope and is under 80 on that date is an elector; the others are non-electors.
Six themes, one score out of 100
Our system positions each cardinal on an ideological axis using six key criteria, each specifically weighted to obtain an overall position out of 100. For each criterion, the value ranges from 0 (very progressive) to 10 (very conservative) and functions as a slider on this ideological axis.
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Moral doctrinePositions on sexuality, family, homosexuality, abortion and other moral issues. | 25 % |
| Liturgy and traditionAttachment to traditional liturgy, openness to liturgical innovations, ritual conservatism. | 20 % |
| Socio-political engagementPositions on social issues, ecology, immigration, international conflicts. | 15 % |
| Stance on Francis's reformsSupport for Pope Francis's reform programme (synodality, Church governance, appointments): 0 = active support, 10 = public criticism. | 20 % |
| Interreligious dialogueOpenness to ecumenism, attitude toward non-Christian religions and religious minorities. | 10 % |
| Communication and pastoral styleTone used in public, relationship with media, leadership and administrative style. | 10 % |
Reading the scale
- 0–20Very progressive - Strongly liberal positions on most issues.
- 21–35Progressive - Significant openness to change and reform.
- 36–45Moderate-progressive - Progressive tendency but with certain traditional positions.
- 46–55Moderate - Balance between tradition and reform.
- 56–65Moderate-conservative - Conservative tendency with some openings.
- 66–80Conservative - Strong attachment to tradition and established teachings.
- 81–100Very conservative - Strict defense of traditional doctrine in all areas.
The displayed value is not an election probability but represents the cardinal's position on a progressive (0) to conservative (100) axis. It is a slider indicating ideological positioning. The "Stance on Francis's reforms" criterion assesses whether the cardinal represents a more progressive or more conservative position than that of the late pope, with the latter being arbitrarily placed at the center of the scale (5/10).
Sources and limits
Each score is based on public statements, writings and decisions, cited under each theme. The official biographies of the Holy See and the College of Cardinals Report serve as factual references. A score summarises a tendency; it says nothing about a cardinal’s holiness, competence or chances of election. Found an error? Let us know on X.
This analysis was performed by CatéGPT, an artificial intelligence specialized in Catholic religious matters. The evaluation is based on public sources and does not claim to represent the personal or private opinions of the cardinals.
The portraits
The portraits are black-ink engravings highlighted with cardinal red, made for Conclavoscope from public photographs. They are illustrations.