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As the conclave begins in Rome to chose the successor to Pope Francis, a Saskatchewan bishop says the event marks a “commitment to hope.”
In the most globally represented conclave to date, 133 cardinals will meet in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel Wednesday to elect a new pope. The pope is elected by the College of Cardinals, and during the conclave the participants are isolated from external communication.
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Francis died on April 21 at age 88, after making his last public appearance at the Vatican on Easter Sunday.
Mark Hagemoen, bishop of the Diocese of Saskatoon, said the conclave is a time of profound prayer, and listening to the Holy Spirit to determine who is being called to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
“It’s not just about the person,” he said. “It’s about the themes (and) the issues that the church is facing in the world that are brought to mind and heart.”
Hagemoen said the next pope needs to be a man of God who will enter the lives of all people pastorally, especially in a time where the world faces conflict and division.
“The pope would need to be a man of peace,” he said.
Hagemoen said being connected with all creation is essential, especially with today’s environmental challenges.
The bishop said cardinals might reflect on who is best positioned to build on the Synod on Synodality, a big agenda item for Francis. He said it is about reflecting on how the church teaches the gospel through action.
Following the death of Francis, Hagemoen said he’s noticed more people attending mass.
“There’s been a lot of interest and outpouring of affection and admiration for Pope Francis, not just by Catholics but by many others,” he said.
“I think that is going to go into what happens in the conclave and the election of the new pope.”
Originally, 135 cardinals under age 80 were eligible to participate in the conclave, but two could not attend for health-related reasons. To be elected pope, a two-thirds majority of 89 votes must be secured.
Italy has the most participants with 17 cardinals, followed by 10 from the United States and seven from Brazil. France and Spain each have five cardinal voters, while Canada, India, Poland, Portugal and Argentina have four.
–with files from The Canadian Press
