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Herald Malaysia
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo on Pope Leo XIV
After participating in the Conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV as the successor of Peter, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu describes this election as a choice of the Holy Spirit, made by the Cardinals. The Archbishop of Kinshasa (DRC) and President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa May 14, 2025 Conclave to elect the new pope, at the Vatican Stanislas Kambashi, SJ – Vatican City. Arriving in Rome a day after the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Ambongo described the intense period that the universal Church has just experienced as comprising three phases: the death and funeral of the late Sovereign Pontiff, the nine days of mourning and the General Congregations (meetings) held by the Cardinals, and the Conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV. At the end of these intense 'three phases,' the Congolese Archbishop shared his thoughts on the new Pope with Vatican News, particularly urging the faithful to 'pray for the successor of Peter so that the Lord gives him light, grace, and inner strength to carry out his mission, which is essentially to confirm all the faithful in the faith,' and to manifest God's mercy to all humanity. Your Eminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo, you just experienced very intense moments: the General Congregations, then the Conclave. How did you live through these times? I would rather speak of three very important moments since my arrival here. The first was the funeral of Pope Francis, which we experienced with great emotion—this great Pope who visited us in the Congo. We cherish all those memories of him. The second was what is called the pre-Conclave, with the General Congregations, which lasted more than a week—I would say ten days. And the third was the Conclave itself. Each moment was experienced in a particular way. The funeral of Pope Francis was celebrated in sorrow and sadness. The second moment, the pre-Conclave, characterized by the Congregations—gatherings of all Cardinals, electors and non-electors—was a time of reflection, analysis, and critical examination of the reality of our Church, how far we have come, and projections for the future. All of this provided material that helped us define the profile of the person we wanted on Peter's Chair to help lead the Church. The General Congregations, which prepare us immediately for the Conclave, made it possible that, when we entered the Conclave—which I consider the third moment of my stay here—things went relatively smoothly because we were prepared. From the profile of the future Pope that you and the Cardinals sketched during the General Congregations: you especially wanted a universal Shepherd close to the people. And the Sovereign Pontiff you elected fits this profile, being a missionary. What are your first impressions after the election of the new Pope? The overall impression, as you saw when the Cardinals came out, is one of joy—everyone was satisfied with the choice of Pope Leo XIV. Because before God—and that's why we took our oath and acted in conscience—we reached an inner conviction that he was the one among us who best matched the profile we had defined. And you saw, in less than 24 hours, Cardinals from different parts of the world elected a Pope. That fact, I believe, must be acknowledged. 133 cardinals from four corners of the world, who did not know each other well—since I have been a Cardinal for about five years, we've only had the College of Cardinals meet once before, to discuss the document Praedicate Evangelium . But all those appointed after us we didn't know. Imagine that, in two weeks, we managed to fraternise, get to know each other, and exchange ideas and notes. Through these exchanges, we reached a consensus on the profile of the Cardinal who best fits the current priorities of the Church amidst its great challenges. The Holy Spirit was with us. Does this also reflect a certain unity within the College of Cardinals, which should also be mirrored throughout the Church? In fact, there is a gap between what is said in the media and reality. The press often claims that the Church is divided—between conservatives and progressives. These categories do not exist among the Cardinals themselves. The proof of this is what we just experienced. Cardinals, representing the entire universal Church, demonstrated a much deeper understanding of the true nature of the Church. The Church is not an ideology, as the media sometimes portrays it, but rather attachment to a person. And that person is Jesus Christ. The fundamental question He posed to Simon Peter was: 'Do you love me?' Do you love me? It's about loving this man, and all men and women around the world who love Jesus recognise themselves as brothers and sisters. Our common point is this love for Jesus. And these are not ideologies, as some try to say, but genuine love—love that transforms our nature from within and sets us on the right path. Today, we live in a world torn apart by wars and nationalism. Do you also have hope that the elected Pope is the person who can better continue the fight for peace, or continue the battle against increasingly dividing nationalisms? Pope Francis said very clearly that our world today is characterised by what he called a 'third world war—fought in small pieces.' That is the reality of our world. There are conflicts and tensions everywhere. The College of Cardinals aimed to elect a new Pope who would continue along the lines of Pope Francis—reminding humanity that we are all brothers: 'Fratelli Tutti,' as he wrote—and that it is pointless to spend most of our time quarrelling, fighting, and killing each other when we are all brothers and sisters. We believe that the newly elected Pope, Leo XIV, is aligned with this vision. You heard his first words upon being elected were about peace, emphasising the need for everyone to commit to peace. Peace is not a natural state; we must work to build it. It does not simply fall from the sky. It requires our engagement, will, and a good inner disposition to wish others well. And I believe the new Pope will help us in this regard. I say this especially because of his background—he is a person who embodies what could be called the whole world. His grandparents come from France and Italy, and he himself is American, having lived many years in Peru. He was the Prior General of his religious congregation, the Order of Saint Augustine. As Prior General, he travelled around the world, visiting Africa—including the Congo. There are still beautiful images circulating on social media of him visiting us, and all this makes him what we can now call a 'citizen of the world.' I think this gives him a real advantage in viewing the conflicts of today's world with some perspective and in finding the appropriate language to reach out to the belligerents and exhort them to reconcile. You pointed out that Leo XIV is a cosmopolitan figure, as some might say. A Roman pontiff's name can sometimes already hint at the direction of his pontificate. Leo XIV also references his predecessor, Leo XIII, who wrote the encyclical Rerum Novarum , the social encyclical. How do you think this pontificate might be oriented based on this name Leo XIV? The best explanation comes from the Pope himself. I believe that by choosing this name, he first references Pope Leo XIII, who was the first pope to write a social encyclical, Rerum Novarum . This encyclical specifically addresses social issues. In his first words on Thursday, the new Pope began by talking about peace. Like the risen Jesus after His Resurrection, the first words He addressed to His disciples after their betrayal were: 'Peace be with you.' Since the announcement of the election of Pope Leo XIV, many reactions have expressed the joy of the people of God. Your Eminence, you are president of SCEAM, the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar. What can Africa, as a continent, hope for from this new papacy of Pope Leo XIV? Africa today faces many problems, including widespread poverty. Looking at the continent's reality, only a few countries are doing relatively well. But overall, many African countries are in difficulty. The root of these challenges lies in the issue of living together, which is problematic—not only among Africans themselves but also with external powers that come into our countries. Pope Francis, with the process of synodality, has already indicated the way forward. Most of our conflicts in Africa—such as the ongoing wars in Sudan, South Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and tensions with Rwanda, as well as the roles of Uganda and Burundi—create confusion and suffering among the population. But by returning to the very concept of synodality, we can see each other differently, work together differently, hold hands, and move forward as one. I believe that for Africa, it would be very important for the new Pope to advance the process of synodality, which could be a real springboard for resolving many of our conflicts. That's one point. I also see that Pope Leo XIV is a man very sensitive to financial issues. At the Vatican, he is involved in many commissions that deal with the Holy See's finances. Pope Francis, when he began reforming the Curia—which he viewed as a mandate received from the last Conclave—started with financial reforms at the Holy See. This means that, in a diocese, religious congregation, or parish, if we do not take the matter of material management and the economic-financial dimension of our ministry seriously, we risk facing difficulties tomorrow. Even Jesus Christ, though the Son of God, had an economic base for the group of Apostles, and it worked well. The treasury was entrusted to a good steward who carefully followed expenses—Judas. So, in our dioceses, we also need this. Our hope is that the new Pope, building on the reforms undertaken here at the Vatican, will also encourage us in our dioceses and urge religious congregations to put their financial management in order. Because we will never be credible if we are not transparent and honest in our economic and financial management. Thank you, Your Eminence. What is your closing word? Would you like to add something regarding the election of Leo XIV, the new Pope, and the reception of this news in Africa and especially in your country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo? There is an interesting anecdote: after the Conclave, among the messages I received, I saw on social media how some people commented on the election of the new Pope. There is a tendency to apply the logic of the 20th century to the process of electing the successor of Peter. Some said that Cardinal Ambongo is among the candidates and was ranked among the top ten. That's not how it works. There are no candidates. Any Cardinal can be elected. Any priest can be elected. So, when I see these reactions, I feel a bit sad—some even comment that they are disappointed because it's not what they had hoped for. Humanly speaking, I understand, but I believe we must rise above these purely human considerations. The choice of the successor of Peter is primarily made by the Holy Spirit itself and by the Cardinals gathered in Conclave. No one considers continent, group membership, or skin colour. Instead, we focus on the gravity of the mission and our duty as Cardinals to find the person truly suited to the challenges. Therefore, I simply ask everyone to warmly welcome Pope Leo XIV, just as we have always welcomed other Popes—with sincere, enthusiastic, and open-hearted acceptance of the new Pope, who already knows our reality in Africa. Pray for him because the mission is not easy. Governing the Catholic Church is not like being the head of a single territory. The universal Shepherd, the successor of Peter, must constantly manoeuvre to meet the expectations of more than a billion Catholics worldwide, each with their own traditions, tastes, and differences. Achieving balance is not an easy task. That's why I ask my African brothers and sisters to pray for the successor of Peter, so that the Lord gives him light, grace, and inner strength to continue his work—primarily to confirm all the faithful in the faith. The Pope is here to confirm the faithful, but also to manifest God's mercy to all humanity—not just Catholics, but all of humanity.--Vatican News
CBS News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Who will be the next pope? Here's a list of some possible candidates to succeed Pope Francis.
Pope Francis' death on Monday, the day after Easter Sunday , started off a series of traditions that in a few weeks will culminate in a vote for the next pope. After Pope Francis is laid to rest , his successor will be decided by the Catholic Church's Cardinal Electors, a group of about 135 cardinals under the age of 80, who are expected to begin their conclave in early to mid-May to hold a secretive election for the next pontiff. Over the last 600 years — since 1378 — cardinals have been chosen for the position, although eligibility technically extends to any male Roman Catholic who has been baptized. Here is look at some of the cardinals considered possible contenders to become pope: Cardinal Peter Erdo, a 72-year-old canon lawyer, is the highest ranking Catholic leader in a country that is 80% Christian. He is known for his support of the pope's outreach to Orthodox Christians. Erdo is also on the conservative side of the European cultural divide. On migration, a key issue for Hungary, he has conveyed a balanced approach, recognizing the right to migrate but also the importance of ensuring political stability. Erdo is considered a traditionalist but is also respected by liberals, which could make him a unifying force within the church. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, grew global attention for leading African bishops in unanimous rejection of "Fiducia Supplicans," a declaration the Vatican issued in 2023 that included guidelines on the blessings of people in same-sex relationships. At 65 years old, he is known as a supporter of orthodoxy and defends priestly celibacy and the Church's moral teachings. He is also known as a promoter of social justice and a champion of the poor and voiceless, and is outspoken in his criticism of the Congolese government. Cardinal Mario Grech, 68, is a canon lawyer who has major influence on how synods in the church are run. Supporters have praised him for leading the charge in implementing a more consultative and inclusive approach to church governance. Grech comes from Malta, which is one of the smallest countries in the world. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, is second-in-command at the Vatican and a career diplomat who has consistently risen above any turbulence marking the pontificate. He is regarded as a moderate who, if elected, could repair rifts inside the church. He is also considered a progressive with a global vision. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60, is a pastoral candidate who has spoken out amid the Israel-Hamas war and visited Gaza during the conflict. He is a proponent of social justice and sees himself as a servant of the people. He is similar to Francis in his concern for migrants, interfaith dialogue and his disdain for clericalism. Cardinal Luis Tagle, 67, and pro-prefect for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, is known as the "Asian Francis" for his missionary spirit as well as his emphasis on caring for the poor and welcoming of LGBTQ and divorced and remarried Catholics. He is the former archbishop of Manila, in the Philippines, which is one of the most Catholic countries on the continent of Asia, and studied in the U.S. for seven years. His election would signal a continuation of Francis' pontificate. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, is the president of the Italian bishops conference. He is known as a "street priest" and missionary and wants a church that listens to the faithful and is willing to modernize. Zuppi is inclusive of same-sex couples, as well as people of different religions. Francis chose Zuppi as his envoy to Russia and Ukraine, as well as to the West Bank and Beijing, to promote peace. Cardinal Anders Arborelius, 75, was raised Lutheran and converted to Catholicism at the age of 20. He is the first ever cardinal from Scandinavia. He is also a traditionalist on the church's teaching on sexual ethics and gender, and has a strong concern for the environment. Arborelius has been a proponent of immigration into Sweden, calling for dialogue and integration instead of restrictions. Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Metropolitan Archbishop of Quebec, Canada, is 67 years old. Earlier in his career he spent years as a missionary and seminary professor in Colombia. He temporarily stepped back from his duties amid sexual abuse allegations, which he denied, and returned to his duties last year after a church-led investigation found no evidence of misconduct.
CBS News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Who will be the next pope? Here's a list of some of the possible top candidates.
Pope Francis' death on Monday, the day after Easter Sunday , started off a series of traditions that in a few weeks will culminate in a vote for the next pope. Francis ' successor will be decided by the Catholic Church's Cardinal Electors, a group of about 135 cardinals under the age of 80, who are expected to begin their conclave in early to mid-May to hold a secretive election for the next pontiff. Over the last 600 years — since 1378 — cardinals have been chosen for the position, although eligibility technically extends to any male Roman Catholic who has been baptized. Here is look at some of the cardinals considered possible contenders to become pope: Cardinal Peter Erdo, a 72-year-old canon lawyer, is the highest ranking Catholic leader in a country that is 80% Christian. He is known for his support of the pope's outreach to Orthodox Christians. Erdo is also on the conservative side of the European cultural divide. On migration, a key issue for Hungary, he has conveyed a balanced approach, recognizing the right to migrate but also the importance of ensuring political stability. Erdo is considered a traditionalist but is also respected by liberals, which could make him a unifying force within the church. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, grew global attention for leading African bishops in unanimous rejection of "Fiducia Supplicans," a declaration the Vatican issued in 2023 that included guidelines on the blessings of people in same-sex relationships. At 65 years old, he is known as a supporter of orthodoxy and defends priestly celibacy and the Church's moral teachings. He is also known as a promoter of social justice and a champion of the poor and voiceless, and is outspoken in his criticism of the Congolese government. Cardinal Mario Grech, 68, is a canon lawyer who has major influence on how synods in the church are run. Supporters have praised him for leading the charge in implementing a more consultative and inclusive approach to church governance. Grech comes from Malta, which is one of the smallest countries in the world. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, is second-in-command at the Vatican and a career diplomat who has consistently risen above any turbulence marking the pontificate. He is regarded as a moderate who, if elected, could repair rifts inside the church. He is also considered a progressive with a global vision. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60, is a pastoral candidate who has spoken out amid the Israel-Hamas war and visited Gaza during the conflict. He is a proponent of social justice and sees himself as a servant of the people. He is similar to Francis in his concern for migrants, interfaith dialogue and his disdain for clericalism. Cardinal Luis Tagle, 67, and pro-prefect for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, is known as the "Asian Francis" for his missionary spirit as well as his emphasis on caring for the poor and welcoming of LGBTQ and divorced and remarried Catholics. He is the former archbishop of Manila, in the Philippines, which is one of the most Catholic countries on the continent of Asia, and studied in the U.S. for seven years. His election would signal a continuation of Francis' pontificate. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, is the president of the Italian bishops conference. He is known as a "street priest" and missionary and wants a church that listens to the faithful and is willing to modernize. Zuppi is inclusive of same-sex couples, as well as people of different religions. Francis chose Zuppi as his envoy to Russia and Ukraine, as well as to the West Bank and Beijing, to promote peace. Cardinal Anders Arborelius, 75, was raised Lutheran and converted to Catholicism at the age of 20. He is the first ever cardinal from Scandinavia. He is also a traditionalist on the church's teaching on sexual ethics and gender, and has a strong concern for the environment. Arborelius has been a proponent of immigration into Sweden, calling for dialogue and integration instead of restrictions. Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Metropolitan Archbishop of Quebec, Canada, is 67 years old. Earlier in his career he spent years as a missionary and seminary professor in Colombia. He temporarily stepped back from his duties amid sexual abuse allegations, which he denied, and returned to his duties last year after a church-led investigation found no evidence of misconduct.
Indian Express
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Who will succeed Pope Francis? Meet 8 frontrunners to be elected as next pontiff
Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday after prolonged illness. He was the first Latin American pontiff to lead the Roman Catholic Church after taking over from Pope Benedict XVI on March 13, 2013. This comes a day after Pope Francis made a surprise appearance on Easter Sunday, greeting a crowd of more than 35,000 in St. Peter's Square since recovering from a severe case of double penumonia. Who could be the next pope? The passing of the pontiff triggers the Interregnum, the intervening period between two papacies. A period of Sede Vacante, meaning 'the seat is vacant' begins, during which the rule of the Church falls to the College. Technically, any Roman Catholic man can be elected as the heir to St. Peter. Though invariably one of the 253 cardinals from around the world will don the papal tiara. However, only 138 of the 253 cardinals will be able to serve as electors in the next conclave as no cardinals over the age of 80 can participate in voting. This number was raised by Pope Francis from 120 in December 2024. Who are the front-runners to be elected next pontiff after Pope Francis? Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, Italy The Vatican's secretary of state, Pietro Parolin served in Pope Francis' Vatican for 11 years and has become the favourite among bookmakers since last November. He was made a cardinal in 2014 by Pope Francis. Parolin would be considered an extension of the legacy of Francis. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, Democratic Republic of the Congo President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu is another front-runner in the race to succeed Pope Francis. The conservative Capuchin made headlines rejecting a controversial declaration of Pope Francis. He declared the doctrine of Fiducia supplicans — which allowed priests to bless unmarried and same-sex couples —- null and void on the African continent. Besungu was able to achieve explicit blessing from Pope Francis in an emergency meeting in 2023. Cardinal Wim Eijk, 71, the Netherlands Willem Jacobus Eijk, a former medical doctor, is widely seen as one of the most conservative of the front-runners. Eijk was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. Ejik staunchly opposed Francis' endorsement of civil remarriages in the case of not receiving an annulment of the first marriage. Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, Hungary Former president of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe and a devout Marian, Peter Erdo has long been a figure of consequence in the politics of the contemporary church. A conservative, Erdo has previously opposed the practice of divorced or remarried Catholics receiving Holy Communion due to the doctrinal belief in the insolubility of marriage. Erdo was made a cardinal in 2003 by Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, Philippines Luis Antonio Tagle, often dubbed as the 'Asian Pope Francis' — is considered left-leaning politically and has been critical of the Church's treatment of LGBT people and divorced and remarried Catholics. In a 2015 interview, he said the Church's 'severe' stance on gay people, divorcees and single mothers has done harm to its goal of evangelising. Tagle is just the seventh Filipino to be made a cardinal and would be the first pope to come from the Asian continent if elected. He was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. Cardinal Raymond Burke, 76, United States of America Raymond Burke is considered the leading arch-conservative in the church — a proponent of the Latin Mass and a public critic of Pope Francis' liberal tendencies. The Wisconsin native and former archbishop of St. Louis challenged Francis' willingness to allow divorced and remarried couples to receive the Eucharist. Burke has also challenged the Church's new language around artificial contraception, gay people and civil marriages as 'objectionable'. Burke was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. Cardinal Mario Grech, 67, Malta The current secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, Mario Grech is considered a potential moderate successor of Pope Francis. He has previously spoken of the necessity to reach out to those who are ostracised from the Church due to their sexuality or marital status. Grech was made a cardinal in 2020 by Pope Francis. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, Italy President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Matteo Zuppi was born in Rome and served in the key position of archbishop of Bologna, Italy — making him an insider in Francis' Vatican. A favorite of Francis, Zuppi was asked in 2023 to carry out a high-profile peace mission in Ukraine — meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on the ill-fated trip. That same year, he was sent to the United States to meet with noted Catholic President Joe Biden. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019.
