The future head of the Roman Catholic Church should be able to build bridges at a time when humanity is in a crisis of world order, decided the cardinals, who are meeting in congregations on the eve of the conclave that begins on May 7.
According to the Head of the Holy See Press Service Matteo Bruni 179 cardinals attended the meeting, 132 of whom were under the age of 80 and eligible to vote.
"The profile of the future Pope was discussed: he should embody someone who is always nearby, who is able to become a bridge and a guide, to facilitate communication at a time when humanity is disoriented and experiencing a crisis of world order. He should be a shepherd who is close to the real life of the people," Bruni said.
He also said that many challenges and tasks facing the Church were raised at the meetings. The cardinals acknowledge that there are serious contradictions in the Church.
After a service in St Peter's Cathedral on 7 May, the 133 cardinal electors will begin closed deliberations in the Sistine Chapel, where voting will take place four times a day from 8 May. The cardinal electors will be isolated from the world and their movements will be confined to the chapel and the Vatican's St. Martha's Hotel, where everything is set up for them. To be elected, the new pontiff must receive 2/3 of the votes. This time it's 89 votes, the most in the history of the conclave.
Pope Francis, who led the Roman Catholic Church since 2013, died on April 21 at the age of 88 from the effects of a stroke that induced a coma and cardiac arrest. The funeral ceremony was held on April 26 in St. Peter's Square and burial in the Basilica of Our Lady Major, which Francis had chosen.
TASS/gnews.cz - GH
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