These are the two Belgian cardinals who participate in decisions about the next pope: « I like that I am on the same line as Francis »

Jozef De Kesel, the « pretty progressive » cardinal

« Pretty progressive », church lawyer Rik Torfs Cardinal Joseph De Kesel once labeled. De Kesel argued earlier to allow married men to the priesthood, called Islam an ally and broke a lance for the blessing of couples of the same sex. Under his auspices such as Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, the Flemish bishops pioneered by making that blessing possible in Belgium. It is therefore not for nothing that the Kesel is known as a spirit of Pope Francis. « I am indeed told that I am on the line of Francis. I have to be on his line. I greatly appreciate him, » he said at his appointment.

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The former religious teacher was appointed bishop of Bruges in 2010. De Kesel then succeeded Roger Vangheluwe, who had to scratch when the child abuse scandal erupted. Five years later he became Archbishop, to kick it up less than a year later. His predecessor André Leonard just grabbed that post because, according to Pope Francis, he was too conservative. The Kesels image of progressive did get a dent when he announced in an interview that Catholic hospitals have the right to refuse abortion or euthanasia.

Dominique Mathieu, the Belgian who is Archbishop of Tehran -ishahan

Dominique Mathieu was only appointed Cardinal by Pope Franciscus at the end of last year. Mathieu took an atypical course that brought him to Iran, where in 2021 he became archbishop of Tehranishahan, a diocese of barely a few thousand Catholics.

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Mathieu was born in Arlon but grew up in Damme with his West Flemish mother and Walloon father. After his priestization in Bruges, he went in his twenties to the Sint-Antonius monastery in Brussels, in a neighborhood where more Muslims lived than Catholics. There he did care, home visits and shelter, and he learned Arabic. Later he was active in Lebanon and Rome. In the Italian capital, he took care of the fate of Islamic prisoners. The Islamic common thread in his career brought him to Iran later, partly to promote dialogue with Islam.

Mathieu belongs to the Order of the Minderbroeders covenants, a split-off of the original Order of Francis of Assisi, the same apostle of the poor after whom Pope Francis mentioned. Although he never publicly walked out on major social themes, he therefore seems to be in the social progressive camp earlier.