Looking ahead to what's next for the Catholic Church

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- South Bend native and Papel history expert Dr. Frank Lacopo teaches at Southeast Missouri University.

Dr. Lacopo credits Pope Francis for transitioning the church into the 21st century. 

Now, there's no way to predict who will become the next Pope, but Lacopo says whoever assumes the role will be watched closely, to see whether or not they'll continue the contemporary work Pope Francis initiated.

"He was much more keyed into the social concerns and the political concerns that people across the world tend to engage with. We will see whether that transition is met with sort of inertia later on as we get a new pope, or whether it'll, there will be a reaction, right? And that, and that will really define the direction of the church into what I would say is the rest of the 21st century," stated Dr. Lacopo.

When the Conclave begins, Cardinals who are eligible to vote will gather in the Sistine Chapel, voting until one person gets a two-thirds majority.