Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re has called on fellow cardinals to choose a Pope capable of preserving unity within the Catholic Church during what he described as a “difficult and complicated” moment in world history.
In the final Mass before the papal conclave at St. Peter’s Basilica, Cardinal Re emphasized the need for a leader with strength, wisdom, and conviction to steer the Church through challenges such as internal divisions, a trust crisis stemming from clerical abuse scandals, and declining faith in the West.
He urged that the next Pope should not only respond to the Church’s needs but also to the greater needs of humanity, stressing that true unity does not mean uniformity but understanding amid diversity.
A total of 133 cardinal electors from nearly 70 countries are participating in the conclave, where at least 89 votes — a two-thirds majority — are required to elect the next Pope who will succeed Pope Francis, who passed away last month after a 12-year pontificate.
There is currently no clear frontrunner, with the cardinals representing a broad spectrum of views from progressive to conservative, and observers note that the race remains wide open.
The cardinals are expected to gather in the Pauline Chapel for prayer, marking the solemn start of the conclave — the traditional and highly secretive papal election process.