British Cardinal, Vincent Nichols has called the responsibility of helping choose the next pope “intimidating,” as the Catholic Church prepares to lay Pope Francis to rest.
The Pope’s funeral will be held at St Peter’s Square on Saturday, 26 April with a significant international presence including Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron, and Sir Keir Starmer. Prince William will attend on behalf of King Charles, Kensington Palace confirmed.
Speaking to Sky News, Cardinal Nichols — the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales — reflected on the gravity of participating in the upcoming conclave, where cardinals will elect the next pontiff.
“I hope nobody goes into this conclave, as it were, with the sole purpose of wanting to win.
“I think it’s very important that we go in wanting to listen to each other… It has to be together, trying to sense what God wants next. Not just for the church,” he said.
Cardinal Nichols also shared emotional moments from the late Pope’s final days. He recalled the procession that brought Pope Francis to lie in state: “It was the most moving thing I’ve ever attended here.”
He also remembered the Pope’s last trip outside the Vatican — a visit to Regina Coeli prison, where the pontiff delivered a touching message to the inmates:
“You know, except for the grace of God, it could well have been me … Don’t lose hope, God has you written in his heart,” he added.
The cardinal shared that Pope Francis later confided his regret to his doctor about not being able to wash the feet of the prisoners during that visit.
With international tensions lingering, much attention will likely focus on interactions between figures like Trump and Zelenskyy, particularly after their tense Oval Office meeting earlier this year.
(Sky News)
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