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India Today
28-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Conclave to elect new pope to start on May 7: Report
Roman Catholic cardinals will meet in a secret conclave to elect the new leader of the global Church starting from May 7, a senior Vatican source said on date was decided during a closed-door meeting of cardinals at the Vatican, the first since the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, the source said, speaking at the end of the gathering. An official announcement is due 135 cardinals, all under the age of 80 and from across the world, are eligible to take part in the conclave and decide who should be the next leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church. The previous two conclaves, held in 2005 and 2013, lasted just two 16th-century Sistine Chapel, where conclaves are held, was closed to tourists on Monday to allow for preparations for the past two conclaves, in 2005 and 2013, lasted just two days. But Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius said on Monday he expects this conclave may take longer, as many of the cardinals appointed by Pope Francis have never met each other made a priority of appointing cardinals from places that had never had them, such as Myanmar, Haiti, and Rwanda."We don't know each other," Arborelius, one of about 135 cardinals under the age of 80 who will enter the conclave, earliest the conclave could have begun was May 6. Starting it a day later means cardinals will have slightly more time for their general discussions ahead of the momentous pope since 2013, died aged 88 on April 21. His funeral on Saturday and a procession through Rome to his burial place at the Basilica of St. Mary Major attracted crowds estimated at more than 400, Cardinal Walter Kasper told La Repubblica newspaper that the outpouring of mourners for Francis indicated that Catholics wanted the next pope to continue with his reforming style of the first pope from Latin America, largely tried to open up the often staid Church to new conversations. He allowed debate on issues such as ordaining women as clergy and outreach to LGBTQ Catholics."The People of God voted with their feet," said Kasper, who is 92 and will not take part in the conclave. "I am convinced that we must go ahead in the footsteps of Francis."However, a bloc of conservative cardinals are certain to push back against this and seek a pope who reasserts traditions and restricts Francis' vision of a more inclusive Watch
India Today
28-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Catholic cardinals meet to discuss date for secret conclave to elect new pope
The world's Catholic cardinals met on Monday for the first time after the funeral of Pope Francis to discuss a possible date to enter a secret conclave and elect the next leader of the global decision could be announced around mid-day (1000 GMT). The conclave is not expected to begin before May 16th-century Sistine Chapel, where conclaves are held, was closed to tourists on Monday to allow for preparations for the The past two conclaves, in 2005 and 2013, lasted just two days. But Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius said on Monday he expects this conclave may take longer, as many of the cardinals appointed by Pope Francis have never met each other made a priority of appointing cardinals from places that had never had them, such as Myanmar, Haiti, and Rwanda."We don't know each other," Arborelius, one of about 135 cardinals under the age of 80 who will enter the conclave, pope since 2013, died aged 88 on April 21. His funeral on Saturday and a procession through Rome to his burial place at the Basilica of St. Mary Major attracted crowds estimated at more than 400, Cardinal Walter Kasper told La Repubblica newspaper that the outpouring of mourners for Francis indicated that Catholics wanted the next pope to continue with his reforming style of the first pope from Latin America, largely tried to open up the often staid Church to new conversations. He allowed debate on issues such as ordaining women as clergy and outreach to LGBTQ Catholics."The People of God voted with their feet," said Kasper, who is 92 and will not take part in the conclave. "I am convinced that we must go ahead in the footsteps of Francis."However, a bloc of conservative cardinals are certain to push back against this and seek a pope who reasserts traditions and restricts Francis' vision of a more inclusive Church.
BBC News
26-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Unity and grief' ahead of Pope's funeral
Catholics in Rome have spoken of a sense of "unity and grief" ahead of the Pope's funeral.A group from Nottinghamshire recently travelled to Rome for the canonisation of Carlo Acutis on 27 April, which was suspended following the death of Pope Friday, thousands of mourners slowly filed past the Pope's coffin, which will sit in front of the Papal Altar until his funeral on SaturdayLucy Harhill, Sister of St Joseph's Church in West Bridgford, said: "There is a real sense of unity and we are all grieving the loss of Pope Francis." Travelling alongside Sister Harhill, is Issie Mcelhone, from the Nottingham Diocese Catholic Youth Service, Michael Furey, a trainee priest in the Nottingham Diocese and The Reverend John Martin, a priest in the Mcelhone said: "When we found out Pope Francis had died, we thought it was really important to come and pay our respects to him, especially after all the work he has done for young people and young Catholics."Mr Furey said there is a "prayerful environment" all across Rome. "Plenty of people are still praying for the canonisation of Carlo Acutis and other people are praying whilst we wait for the new Pope," he added."The atmosphere is also one of joy, anticipation and sorrow as lots of people will now have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the funeral of a Pope."Reverend Martin said thousands of mourners have been queuing to say a final goodbye before the service on Saturday."There is a sense of mourning for the loss of our incredible father Pope Francis, but also joy which sums up the feeling around the place," he funeral of Pope Francis is due to take place at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST).
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cardinal Nichols: I never dreamt I would be choosing the Pope
The leader of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales has said he never thought he would have the "intimidating" duty of voting for Pope Francis's can only vote until they turn 80, which is just a few months away for Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, who was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in Cardinal Nichols exclusively told BBC North West he thought it was "going to pass me by [until] a couple of months ago when he was seriously ill". The archbishop said he remembered thinking to himself: "Oh Lord, this is going to come my way."He said he had "put it to the back of my mind" again until Pope Francis died, aged 88, on Monday. Cardinal Nichols, who leads six million Roman Catholics in England and Wales, said he "never thought I would [be voting] because [Pope Francis] didn't show many signs of slowing down" and appeared to be recovering from double 79-year-old archbishop, who was born in Crosby, said he had met Pope Francis several times during high-level meetings in said he had two abiding special memories."One particularly has never left me," said the cardinal. "He said to me: 'From the moment of my election as Pope, my peace has never left me'."Despite the pressure of all he has to deal with, he has lived close to God."Cardinal Nichols also said he had fond memories of their last meeting two years said an author had asked him to give a copy of their latest book to Pope Francis."I gave him the book and said the author was 'very keen that you might have this'. "He came back after lunch with a handwritten card and a copy of one of his own books for me to give as a return gift - that was quite astonishing." Less than two weeks after Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday, Archbishop Nichols and the 134 other cardinals from around the world who are eligible to vote for the 267th pontiff will gather at the will meet in the Sistine Chapel beneath Michelangelo's fresco The Last Judgement to choose the man who will lead the world's estimated 1.4 billion Catholics."It is quite intimidating frankly," he told BBC North West."I know I have got to get myself together and be a little nuanced to all the political manoeuvring and Paddy Power's bets and all that and say 'Actually, this is a group of men trying to discern the will of God. "That's the only thing that matters."Archbishop Nichols said he believed he and his fellow cardinals would "do our best work once the doors of the conclave have been shut and there will be a peace and a prayerfulness between us".When it was pointed out that the new Pope will not require a return ticket once the white smoke emerges, Archbishop Nichols was very quick to play down his own chances."I'm coming home," he said. "You can be sure of that!" Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
22-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Coventry worshippers share shock and sadness after Pope dies
People at Catholic churches in Coventry have shared their shock and sadness after the death of Pope Francis at the age of died at his residence in the Vatican on Easter Monday, a day after he appeared in St Peter's Square to wish thousands of worshippers a happy Francis spent 12 years as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Tom Farrell, the Dean of Coventry and the parish priest of Christ the King, told BBC Radio CWR about his shock, but also of his joy that the Pope had been able to give his final blessing. "I think everybody has known he's been unwell for quite a while," he said, "but to see him out on the balcony giving the Easter blessing was a wonderful joy for so many Catholics."He said: "Although it's a shock, I think people are pleased that he was able to have that final appearance, give that final blessing before his passing."Martin McLintock, who was part of the congregation at St Osburg's Church in Coventry on Easter Monday, said the Pope had been able to look at all denominations and had been "fair with everyone and tried his best".He said in particular, he had "a big fondness for those who are poor and those who are less privileged than some of us".Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died following a stroke and heart failure, less than 24 hours after he led his Easter death followed a period of ill health that saw him spend five weeks in hospital with double who was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected Pope in 2013. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
