Latest news with #MykolaBychok
The Advertiser
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Time of my life': Aussie cardinal's conclave insight
The nation's highest-ranking Catholic has provided a rare insight into the process of electing the new Pope, describing the secretive conclave as the highlight of his life. Cardinal Mykola Bychok - Australia's sole representative at the recently concluded conclave in Rome - joked that it was a relief to shut out the outside world for an extended period. "That was the best time of my life," he told reporters with a smile on Friday afternoon, local time. "Just try ... try to turn off your phone at least for 24 hours — my phone was turned off for two and a half days." But he added the process did not resemble the Oscar-winning Hollywood film Conclave, which details the political machinations behind the selection of a fictional pope. "I watched the movie, but actually it was controversial ... especially about prayer," Cardinal Bychok said. "Have you seen in this movie any of the cardinals pray? Not one time, which is Hollywood style." The closeted event, which concluded in Rome on Thursday, resulted in the election of US-born Robert Prevost as the first American pope. He took the name Pope Leo XIV and is also the first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the Catholic faith. Only cardinals participate in the closed-door election process. The Ukraine-born, Melbourne-based Cardinal Bychok was appointed to his senior post by Pope Francis in 2024 after other senior Australian Catholic church leaders were controversially overlooked. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Pope Leo made several previous visits to Australia as leader of the order of St Augustine and had already developed a fondness for the country, one Sydney-based church official said. "He loved being in the country," the Pope's long-time friend Father Tony Banks told Sky News. "He loved the beaches, among the things he actually liked was driving between Brisbane and Sydney and the distance." Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "If he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney ... but if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia," he said. The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues, but he described him as attentive and a deep listener. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker. The nation's highest-ranking Catholic has provided a rare insight into the process of electing the new Pope, describing the secretive conclave as the highlight of his life. Cardinal Mykola Bychok - Australia's sole representative at the recently concluded conclave in Rome - joked that it was a relief to shut out the outside world for an extended period. "That was the best time of my life," he told reporters with a smile on Friday afternoon, local time. "Just try ... try to turn off your phone at least for 24 hours — my phone was turned off for two and a half days." But he added the process did not resemble the Oscar-winning Hollywood film Conclave, which details the political machinations behind the selection of a fictional pope. "I watched the movie, but actually it was controversial ... especially about prayer," Cardinal Bychok said. "Have you seen in this movie any of the cardinals pray? Not one time, which is Hollywood style." The closeted event, which concluded in Rome on Thursday, resulted in the election of US-born Robert Prevost as the first American pope. He took the name Pope Leo XIV and is also the first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the Catholic faith. Only cardinals participate in the closed-door election process. The Ukraine-born, Melbourne-based Cardinal Bychok was appointed to his senior post by Pope Francis in 2024 after other senior Australian Catholic church leaders were controversially overlooked. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Pope Leo made several previous visits to Australia as leader of the order of St Augustine and had already developed a fondness for the country, one Sydney-based church official said. "He loved being in the country," the Pope's long-time friend Father Tony Banks told Sky News. "He loved the beaches, among the things he actually liked was driving between Brisbane and Sydney and the distance." Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "If he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney ... but if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia," he said. The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues, but he described him as attentive and a deep listener. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker. The nation's highest-ranking Catholic has provided a rare insight into the process of electing the new Pope, describing the secretive conclave as the highlight of his life. Cardinal Mykola Bychok - Australia's sole representative at the recently concluded conclave in Rome - joked that it was a relief to shut out the outside world for an extended period. "That was the best time of my life," he told reporters with a smile on Friday afternoon, local time. "Just try ... try to turn off your phone at least for 24 hours — my phone was turned off for two and a half days." But he added the process did not resemble the Oscar-winning Hollywood film Conclave, which details the political machinations behind the selection of a fictional pope. "I watched the movie, but actually it was controversial ... especially about prayer," Cardinal Bychok said. "Have you seen in this movie any of the cardinals pray? Not one time, which is Hollywood style." The closeted event, which concluded in Rome on Thursday, resulted in the election of US-born Robert Prevost as the first American pope. He took the name Pope Leo XIV and is also the first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the Catholic faith. Only cardinals participate in the closed-door election process. The Ukraine-born, Melbourne-based Cardinal Bychok was appointed to his senior post by Pope Francis in 2024 after other senior Australian Catholic church leaders were controversially overlooked. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Pope Leo made several previous visits to Australia as leader of the order of St Augustine and had already developed a fondness for the country, one Sydney-based church official said. "He loved being in the country," the Pope's long-time friend Father Tony Banks told Sky News. "He loved the beaches, among the things he actually liked was driving between Brisbane and Sydney and the distance." Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "If he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney ... but if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia," he said. The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues, but he described him as attentive and a deep listener. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker. The nation's highest-ranking Catholic has provided a rare insight into the process of electing the new Pope, describing the secretive conclave as the highlight of his life. Cardinal Mykola Bychok - Australia's sole representative at the recently concluded conclave in Rome - joked that it was a relief to shut out the outside world for an extended period. "That was the best time of my life," he told reporters with a smile on Friday afternoon, local time. "Just try ... try to turn off your phone at least for 24 hours — my phone was turned off for two and a half days." But he added the process did not resemble the Oscar-winning Hollywood film Conclave, which details the political machinations behind the selection of a fictional pope. "I watched the movie, but actually it was controversial ... especially about prayer," Cardinal Bychok said. "Have you seen in this movie any of the cardinals pray? Not one time, which is Hollywood style." The closeted event, which concluded in Rome on Thursday, resulted in the election of US-born Robert Prevost as the first American pope. He took the name Pope Leo XIV and is also the first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the Catholic faith. Only cardinals participate in the closed-door election process. The Ukraine-born, Melbourne-based Cardinal Bychok was appointed to his senior post by Pope Francis in 2024 after other senior Australian Catholic church leaders were controversially overlooked. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Pope Leo made several previous visits to Australia as leader of the order of St Augustine and had already developed a fondness for the country, one Sydney-based church official said. "He loved being in the country," the Pope's long-time friend Father Tony Banks told Sky News. "He loved the beaches, among the things he actually liked was driving between Brisbane and Sydney and the distance." Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "If he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney ... but if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia," he said. The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues, but he described him as attentive and a deep listener. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker.
ABC News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Australian cardinal Mykola Bychok says conclave was the 'best time of my life'
It's only been six months since the late Pope Francis elevated Mykola Bychok to the position of cardinal, but he's already made history. On Thursday, the 45-year-old was the youngest cardinal in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV. He described the experience as unforgettable. "Just only two times I experienced it like goose skin," Cardinal Bychok said. "That was before the procession when we were going to the Sistine Chapel. And the second one, it was before the official announcement of the new pope," he said. The Ukrainian-born, Melbourne-based cardinal appeared to have a weight lifted off his shoulders on Friday, in his first public appearance since the conclave. Cardinal Bychok made jokes and beamed throughout the press conference, but still showed signs of his trademark shyness in the spotlight. "It was difficult to imagine this experience more than half a year ago," Cardinal Bychok chuckled, sounding slightly stunned. "I felt huge responsibility, not only for the next pope, but as well for the future of the Catholic Church." The public will never know exactly who backed Pope Leo XIV, or why his election only took four rounds of voting. Like all 133 voting cardinals, Cardinal Bychok took an oath of secrecy before the vote began. While he was careful to keep it, he did shed some light on what went on behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel in the conclave that chose the 267th pope. It was always going to be difficult for a cardinal sworn to secrecy to face a hungry press pack determined to get answers. Before Cardinal Bychok appeared for Friday's press conference in Rome, his vicar-general, Father Simon Cjuk, issued a warning to journalists. "Don't be asking things like, how many votes did so-and-so get? Because you're not going to get an answer," Father Cjuk said. The vicar-general was good humoured but serious, making a comparison to private voting booths in Australian elections. "It's sacrosanct, the anonymity," Father Cjuk said. "And it's the same with elections for the Holy Father." With that, he welcomed Cardinal Bychok to the microphone. The second question was whether he voted for Pope Leo XIV. While minders bristled, the cardinal answered without missing a beat. "I support not only Pope Leo, but every cardinal by my prayer," he said with a smile. When asked why the choice was made so quickly, Cardinal Bychok said the Holy Spirit worked in mysterious ways. He described the moment the new pontiff stepped onto the balcony atop St Peter's Square as a "moment of truth." The choice was a surprise for many — including inside the conclave. "It wasn't expected as well for us cardinals, because I would like to repeat one more time, that was the work of the Holy Spirit," he said. Cardinal Bychok was more forthright when pressed about the accuracy of the Conclave movie, released last year. The cardinal confirmed he had watched it and joked it wasn't helpful ahead of his first conclave. "Actually it was controversial, especially about prayer," he chuckled, as the room filled with laughter. He denied there was any discussion about the film between cardinals during the actual conclave. "You see, if we are living in reality, it's better staying (away) from movies, from artificial intelligence," he said, still laughing. On a more serious note, the cardinal disagreed with its portrayal of political factions inside the conclave. "The main task, not only cardinals, but as well priests, is to proclaim the word of God, not to be in this party or that party," he said. There were definitely no cardinals watching the movie during the conclave, given the strict technology blackout. Cardinal Bychok light-heartedly described it as "the best time of my life" and encouraged everyone to give it a go. "Just try! Try to turn off your phone at least for 24 hours or at least — my phone was turned off for two and a half days," he laughed. "Are there many messages?" a reporter asked. "Yeah," he grinned. "I still should read." After the laughter died down, the cardinal got serious, saying the phone ban was helpful in gaining clarity. "During the conclave I was completely in peace," Cardinal Bychok said. "When you are locked up it's completely silence, what should I do? "Just to take rosary and pray." Still wearing his trademark black veil, the cardinal spoke from his temporary home at Domus Australia, a pilgrim guesthouse set up by the Catholic Church in Rome. It's understood he will stay there until the inauguration, in nine days. In the meantime, he plans to answer all those phone messages — but more importantly keep praying the new pope will deliver his goals of peace and unity. He revealed each cardinal had the opportunity to speak with Pope Leo XIV after his election. Cardinal Bychok told the new pontiff he would pray for his service. "Not only to the Ukrainians, but also to the Australians," he said.
Perth Now
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Conclave to select new pope begins at Sistine Chapel
Catholic cardinals who will choose the next pope have filed into the Sistine Chapel, before locking themselves away from the world to elect the man they hope can unite a diverse but divided global Church. In a ritual dating back to medieval times, 133 cardinal electors - including Australia's Ukraine-born Cardinal Mykola Bychok - will take an oath of perpetual secrecy under the gaze of the stern Christ depicted in Michelangelo's Last Judgement fresco, which adorns the chapel. They will then hold their first ballot looking for a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month. No pope has been elected on the first day of a conclave for centuries and voting could continue for several days before one man receives the necessary two-thirds majority to become the 267th pontiff. There will be only one ballot on Wednesday. Thereafter, there can be as many as four votes a day. The cardinals walked slowly into the chapel, taking part in a solemn Latin chant called the litany of the saints. They beseeched nearly 100 men and women believed to reside in heaven to pray for them as they prepare to make what arguably will be the most momentous decision of their lives. After the cardinals have pronounced their oath, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Vatican's master of ceremonies, will pronounce the Latin command "Extra omnes!" (Everyone out!), telling all those not involved in the gathering to leave. The chapel's heavy wooden doors will then slam shut. The only expected signal from the cardinals during the conclave will come in the form of smoke from a chimney atop the chapel, as the clerics burn their ballots. Black smoke will mark an inconclusive vote; white smoke and the pealing of bells will signal that the 1.4-billion-member Church has a new leader. At a Mass in St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday before entering the conclave, the cardinals prayed that God would help them find a pope who would exercise "watchful care" over the world. In a sermon, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re told his peers they must set aside "every personal consideration" in choosing the new pontiff and keep in mind "only ... the good of the Church and of humanity". Cardinals in recent days have offered different assessments of what they are looking for in the next pope. While some have called for continuity with Francis' vision of greater openness and reform, others have said they want to turn the clock back and embrace traditions. Many have indicated they want a more predictable, measured pontificate. A record 133 cardinals from 70 countries were expected to enter the Sistine Chapel, up from 115 from 48 nations in the last conclave in 2013 - growth that reflects Francis' efforts to extend the reach of the Church. No clear favourite has emerged, although Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are considered the front-runners. However, if it quickly becomes obvious that neither can win, votes are likely to shift to other contenders, with the electors possibly coalescing around geography, doctrinal affinity or common languages. Among other potential candidates are France's Jean-Marc Aveline, Hungary's Peter Erdo, American Robert Prevost and Italy's Pierbattista Pizzaballa. Re, who is 91 and cannot take part in the conclave, suggested the cardinals should look for a pope who respected the Church's diversity. "Unity does not mean uniformity, but a firm and profound communion in diversity," he said in his sermon. The average length of the last 10 conclaves was just over three days and none went on for more than five days. The last conclave, in 2013, lasted just two days. The cardinals will be looking to wrap things up quickly again this time to avoid giving the impression they are divided or that the Church is adrift. Some 80 per cent of the cardinal electors were appointed by Francis, increasing the possibility that his successor will in some way continue his progressive policies despite strong pushback from traditionalists. Among their considerations will be whether they should seek a pope from the global south where congregations are growing, as they did in 2013 with Francis, from Argentina, hand back the reins to Europe or even pick a first US pope.
Borneo Post
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Papal conclave by the numbers
Attendees gather St Peter's Square on the first day of the conclave to elect the next pope, at the Vatican today. – AFP photo VATICAN CITY (May 7): The Vatican's papal conclave to choose a new spiritual leader for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics is governed by procedures and rituals that have evolved over centuries. But the result of the election will be influenced by arithmetic unique to this year's exercise: 133 Cardinal electors A record number of churchmen are eligible to vote in conclave. There are 135 who meet the criteria — to be a cardinal under the age of 80 — but only 133 are to take part in the vote, with two said to be too ill to attend. This is up from 115 during the last two conclaves in 2005 and 2013. Among them, 52 hail from Europe, 23 Asia, 17 South or Central America, 17 Africa, 20 North America, and four Oceania. 69 countries The cardinal electors come from 69 countries across five continents, another record, plus Jerusalem. 70 years and three months The average age of the cardinal electors is 70 years and three months. The youngest is Ukraine's Mykola Bychok, archbishop of Melbourne, at 45. The oldest is Carlos Osoro Sierra, a Spaniard who at 79 years and 11 months was almost too old to vote. 81.2 per cent A large majority, 81.2 per cent, of the 133 cardinal electors were appointed by Pope Francis during his 12 years at the head of the Holy See. These 108 are taking part in their first conclave. Among the veterans, 20 were named by Benedict XVI and five by John Paul II. 17 Italians For centuries both the papacy and the college of cardinals were dominated by Italians, but as the church has gone global their numbers have fallen. Nevertheless, at 17, Italy still has the biggest national contribution, down from 28 in 2013. 15 new countries Some 15 countries are represented for the first time, with cardinals from Haiti, Cape Verde, Papua New Guinea and South Sudan. 18 religious orders Within the Catholic Church are several religious orders. Francis, for example, was a Jesuit and 18 such movements will have cardinals in the Sistine Chapel for the voting. Four votes per day If no clear winner emerges in the initial ballot, the cardinals will vote four times a day, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, until a majority emerges. 89-vote majority The new pope will need a two-thirds majority. With 133 in the room, 89 cardinals must write his name on their secret ballot papers. Two stoves The ballots cast by the cardinals are burned in a stove, both to preserve the secrecy of the process and to act as a signal of progress to the faithful gathered outside the sealed chapel. Today, two stoves are used, connected to the same chimney. In one, the ballots are burned, in the other a chemical compound is burned to create either black smoke — no majority yet — or white — a new pope has been chosen. Two days? If no majority emerges quickly, in theory a conclave could continue for weeks or months. In practice, the previous two — the 2005 election of Benedict XVI and of Francis in 2013 — lasted two days. In the 20th and 21st centuries, conclaves have never lasted longer than five days, as was the case for Pope Pius XI's election in 1922, which required 14 ballots. – AFP Catholic conclave elect Pope vatican
News.com.au
07-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Cardinals sequestered in Vatican after final mass before conclave
The cardinals responsible for choosing the future pope held one final mass in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Wednesday before sealing themselves away to elect the new head of the Catholic Church. A total of 133 cardinals from five continents are sequestered inside the Vatican as they prepare to take part in the conclave, the top secret voting process to select a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month after a 12-year papacy. Among them will be Australia's representative, Ukrainian-born cardinal Mykola Bychok, who is based in Melbourne and is the youngest member of the Sacred College of Cardinals at 45. The pre-conclave mass, which is the last publicly celebrated rite before the secret election process begins, was led by dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, who used his homely to urge his fellow cardinals to select a pope 'whom the church and humanity need at this difficult, complex and tormented turning point in history.' He also said that they should look to 'maintain the unity of the church,' although a 'unity that does not mean uniformity, but a firm and profound communion in diversity, provided that full fidelity to the Gospel is maintained.' In a time of geopolitical uncertainty, the new pope faces diplomatic balancing acts, as well as Church infighting, the continued fallout from the clerical child abuse scandal, and – in the West – increasingly empty pews. No clear frontrunner has emerged from among the prelates – who represents a range of progressive and conservative traditions within the Church – and the contest to lead the 2,000-year-old institution appears wide open. With clerics from around 70 countries, this conclave is the largest ever, and the next pontiff will have to secure at least 89 votes, a two-thirds majority. At 91-year-old, Cardinal Re is not eligible to vote in the conclave as the cut-off age is 80. The cardinals are staying at the Vatican's Santa Marta guesthouse, where Francis used to live, and Santa Marta Vecchia, a building next door usually housing Vatican officials. As part of the process, the cardinals must surrender their mobile phones and airwaves around the Vatican are jammed to block communication from the outside world. At 3.45pm (11.45pm AEST) they will set off from Santa Marta to gather at the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, where a prayer will be held from 4.30pm. They then proceed into the 15th-century Sistine Chapel for the conclave, which is 'one of the most secret and mysterious events in the world', the Vatican said on Tuesday. The cardinals are expected to be locked away for several days as they deliberate. Both Francis and his predecessor Benedict XVI were elected within two days, but the longest papal election in Church history lasted 1,006 days, from 1268 to 1271. What will happen inside the conclave Under a ceiling of frescoes painted by Michelangelo, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin – the senior elector – will call on God to give the cardinals 'the spirit of intelligence, truth and peace' needed for their task. Parolin, a frontrunner who was Francis's number two as secretary of state, will then lead the cardinals in chanting the Latin invocation of the Holy Spirit: 'Veni, Creator Spiritus'. The cardinals have spent days discussing the most pressing challenges facing the Catholic Church and the character traits its new leader needs. Burning issues include falling priest numbers, the role of women, the Vatican's troubled balance sheets and how to adapt the Church to the modern world. Some 80 per cent of the cardinals were appointed by Francis, an impulsive, charismatic champion of the downtrodden. But while interviews in the run-up suggested that some cardinals favour a leader able to protect and develop his legacy, others want a more conservative defender of doctrine. More than a dozen names are circulating, from Italian Pierbattista Pizzaballa to Hungary's Peter Erdo and Sri Lanka's Malcolm Ranjith. We may never know how close a race it is. Having surrendered mobile phones, the red-robed cardinals will swear an oath to keep the conclave's secrets. They also each pledge to 'faithfully' serve as pope should they be chosen, before the master of liturgical ceremonies says 'Extra omnes' ("Everyone out'). Once the doors close, the cardinals fill out ballots marked 'Eligo in Summum Pontificem' ("I elect as Supreme Pontiff'). They then carry them, folded, and place them on a silver plate which is used to tip them into an urn, set on a table in front of Michelangelo's Last Judgement. The cardinals traditionally cast just one ballot on the first evening, burning the votes along with a chemical that produces black smoke if there is no decision, white for a new pope. Outside, hundreds of the faithful have gathered on St Peter's Square, all eyes trained on the Sistine Chapel chimney, with news of the first vote expected by early evening Wednesday.
