Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the leader of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales, has made it clear that he will not be the succeeding pontiff. However, he is anticipating the overwhelming responsibility of participating in the selection of Pope Francis’s successor. As he turns 80 in November, he barely made the age cutoff to be eligible to vote for the new Pope. Nichols expressed surprise at the possibility of being involved in the selection process, stating that he initially believed the opportunity would pass him by until he heard about the Pope’s declining health.
When Pope Francis passes away, the next Pope will be chosen through a traditional process called the conclave, where the College of Cardinals will convene to cast their votes. While any baptized man is technically eligible to be elected as Pope, it is typically a cardinal, chosen from serving archbishops ordained by a pontiff, who assumes the role. Only cardinals under the age of 80 can participate in the voting process. Nichols, responsible for leading six million Roman Catholics in England and Wales, admitted to BBC North West that he had not expected to be involved in the selection process given Pope Francis’s apparent recovery from illness.
Nichols, who was born in Crosby on the Merseyside coast, shared memorable interactions with Pope Francis, particularly during moments of high-level discussions in Rome. An encounter where Pope Francis told Nichols that his peace had remained intact since his papal election left a lasting impression on the 79-year-old archbishop. Recalling their last meeting two years ago, Nichols mentioned an exchange involving a book the Pope gifted to him, which he found “quite astonishing.” After Pope Francis’s funeral, Nichols and his fellow cardinals will gather to deliberate and elect the 267th pontiff, who will lead the world’s approximately 1.4 billion Catholics.
Looking ahead to the conclave, Nichols acknowledged the daunting nature of the process, emphasizing the need for unity and spiritual guidance in making decisions. He stressed the importance of focusing on discerning the will of God amidst external pressures and speculation surrounding the election. Nichols expressed confidence in the ability of the cardinals to work together effectively once isolated during the conclave, emphasizing the significance of approaching the selection process with prayerfulness and a shared commitment to divine guidance
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