“He was a reform pope, but not a modernizer”

On the death of Pope Francis, researchers in theology, religious studies and sociology of religion from the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” have assessed his pontificate and the media interest it generated. Theologian and historian of dogma Michael Seewald describes Francis as a reformist pope in an article on ZEIT Online and also discusses the question of whether his pontificate was “unfinished” in an interview. Religious scholar and theologian Perry Schmidt-Leukel talks to epd and in a website article about Francis and the relationship with other denominations and religions. Religious sociologist Detlef Pollack comments on the pope as a religious and political figure on SWR and zdf.de. (vvm/tec)