May 6, 2025

This Wednesday, the eyes and prayers of the world will turn toward the Sistine Chapel, where the College of Cardinals will enter into Conclave to elect the next Pope—the 267th successor of St. Peter. It is a moment filled with prayerful expectation and profound significance for the Church.

The Papacy is not simply an office—it is a sacred ministry instituted by Christ Himself. When Jesus said to Peter, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18), He entrusted him with a unique role of unity and leadership. The Pope is the visible head of the universal Church, the successor of Peter, and the Vicar of Christ on earth. He is called to confirm his brothers and sisters in the faith (Luke 22:32), to proclaim the Gospel boldly in every age, and to serve as a bridge-builder across nations, cultures, and generations.

Throughout history, popes have been teachers, reformers, defenders of the poor, and voices of conscience to the world. Though not perfect, each has carried the immense responsibility of guiding over a billion Catholics in truth and charity. The Pope is a father to us all—a sign that the Church is never abandoned and that Christ continues to shepherd His people through the ministry of Peter’s successor.

The Conclave, then, is not a political process—it is a deeply spiritual act of discernment. Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, the Cardinals will pray, reflect, and vote under the frescoed gaze of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment. Their task is not to choose according to human calculation, but to surrender to the will of the Holy Spirit, trusting that God will raise up a shepherd for His flock.

We join the entire Church in praying fervently for the Cardinals and for the one whom God has chosen to lead us. May the new Pope be a man of deep holiness, wisdom, and courage—able to speak truth in love, heal divisions, and inspire the world with the light of Christ.

Let us echo the ancient cry of the Church: “Come, Holy Spirit!” And let us trust that the same Lord who built His Church on the rock of Peter will continue to guide her, now and always.