This morning at 4:00 a.m. eastern time (10:00 a.m. in Rome) the cardinals gathered for Mass. They are now in the Sistine Chapel. All those not involved in the procedure have left and the cardinals are locked in. The first vote will take place this evening. Then there will be four votes daily, two in the morning and two in the evening, until a new pope is chosen heralded by the white smoke.
Who will the cardinals give us? 110 of the 133 electors received their red hats from Francis. From a human point of view that isn't encouraging. Will the new pope walk in the footsteps of Jesus? Certainly many popes throughout history have not. Did Francis? The answer to that question lies in the confusion and chaos he created. Is that a mark of Christ?
Edward Pentin and Diane Montagna spearheaded a project to introduce the cardinals and their positions for the benefit of both clergy and laity. You can access the report here. The site is a valuable contribution to the Church and I pray that many of the cardinals who don't really know each other make use of it. Meet the leading contenders for the papacy; and, when the new pope is ushered out on the balcony to greet the faithful, see who the cardinals have given us.
Whoever is elected, I'm praying that, if he is a faithful son of God, he will become even more zealous for the salvation of souls. If he is a Francis clone, I pray that he will be like St. Thomas Becket, who, on being named Archbishop of Canterbury, experienced a conversion that led to his murder at the altar. Our faith is real to the degree we are willing to suffer for it.
Did you read the Act of Faith written by St. Francis Xavier that I posted yesterday? Let us pray for a pope who can make this act of faith with fervor:
I have a firm resolve to lose everything, to suffer everything, to give my blood and my life, rather than to give up a single point of my faith, in which I want to live and die.
Let us help the new pope, whoever he is, with prayers and sacrifices today. I want to carry him in my heart as my "Papa" and love him and respect his office even if he does not.
Lord Jesus, Head of the Church, have mercy on us! Holy Spirit of God, enkindle in the minds and hearts of the cardinals the fire of Thy love. Give us a pope, Lord, who loves your Mother Mary and our Holy Mother the Church. St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church, pray for us. All you angels and saints of God, pray for us.
Female pope incoming?
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