The conclave process is highly secret, which allows the church and the cardinals “freedom” to choose a pope without external influence, said Rev. Sam Sawyer, Jesuit Father and President and Chief Editor of America Media, CNN .
“I believe the secret really aims to help cardinals discern with freedom, giving them the freedom to vote, according to their own conscience, in the man who consider it best to be Pope,” Sawyer said.
While in contemporary times the conclave allows cardinals “freedom of conscience” and the ability to “be really frank to each other and also to vote according to their spirit,” historically the secret process played a more protective role, Sawyer noted.
“In the past, one of the reasons for protecting the conclave in this way was because he would undergo political pressure or, he knows, pressure from people who would basically transmit the papacy within families,” he said.
“Therefore, protecting the conclave in this way really gives the church the freedom to choose the Pope he really needs,” said Sawyer.
Another fundamental part of the conclave process is the first vote, Bishop Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire, told CNN . Barron noted that although “the chance” of a Pope is almost null to be chosen during this period, the first vote is important.
“For the first time, they will realize exactly who the candidates are,” said Barron. “Maybe some people we have all talked about won’t really get votes. And then they will see, ok, probably someone a little left, someone a little more right. So this vote will be important. Almost certainly undecided, but will give a good indication where the conclave is.”
This content was originally published in Conclave: Secret Vote allows you to choose Pope without external influence, says Father on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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