In a new interview, Ghost frontman Tobias Forge claims it’s “likely” that the Cardinal Copia persona will return for their next album. The band has previously teased in social media and interviews that the Papa Emeritus character would return someday. Asked by Australia’s The Music podcast, and transcribed by Blabbermouth.net, Forge said: “I have a vague idea of what’s in store. It’s gonna change over the years, to whatever extent we’ll be around.”

“Right now, if everything goes according to plan, we’re hoping for Cardi to be strong enough and cool enough to possibly do something that none of the previous ones have done, and that’s basically to do two cycles,” he continued. “Which I just find interesting, because each of the other ones you’ve sort of met when they’ve already accomplished their thing — they’re already accomplished; there’s no story — whereas this time around he’s presented very al dente; a little bit of chewing resistance. Not even I liked him to begin with. But now I can’t wait to see him hopefully accomplish these things and I really look forward to possibly seeing him in the skull paint and real papal attire.”

Listen to the full interview below. The band was in Australia as one of the featured acts of last weekends’ Download Australia. Ghost is kicking off their new tour of Europe, supporting Metallica soon.

https://soundcloud.com/themusiccomau/episode-78-ghost-09-03-2019