Cardinal Giovanni Re, the dean of the Cardinal College (older cardinal-bishop), said he hoped that the new Pope of the Catholic Church will be elected on Thursday (8) in the conclave.
At 91, he can no longer vote for the conclave – the age limit is 80 years – but his influence is still felt in him.
He presided over Pope Francis’ funeral and mass before the election, where he uttered the central homily and did what seemed to be a Franciscan appeal to value “diversity.”
“The unity of the Church is dear to Christ; a unity that does not mean uniformity, but a firm and deep communion in diversity, provided it is maintained the full fidelity to the Gospel,” said RE during the ceremony.
Speaking Thursday during a visit to Pompeii, the cardinal stressed to expect that, upon returning to Rome tonight, to find white smoke from the sistine chapel chimney, said Sky TG24, affiliated network of CNN.
In voting in the morning, there was no consensus among the cardinals. Thus, black smoke came out of the chimney of the sistine chapel.
He said that the new Pope “must first of all try to strengthen faith in God in our world characterized by technological progress.”
“From a spiritual point of view, we notice a certain ‘forgetfulness of God.’ Therefore, there is a need for an awakening,” he concluded.
See images of the second day of Conclave
This content was originally published in Conclave: Ancient Cardinal-Bishop Waiting for White Smoke this Thursday (8) on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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