Herald (H): Your Eminence, the conclave is one of the most sacred and solemn moments in the life of the Church. Could you share what it is like, spiritually and emotionally, to participate in such a profoundly ecclesial event?
Cardinal (C): No doubt, the conclave marks a significant moment of crucial importance in the journey of the Church. For most of us, Cardinal electors, this conclave was a maiden experience. As for me, while getting ready for the conclave, I had two types of feelings: feelings of grief for the demise of our beloved Pope Francis and a certain sense of anxiety about the onerous responsibility of choosing a worthy successor to the Chair of Peter. However, what proved to be of great help were the several General Congregations that were held before the beginning of the conclave. During these Congregations, all the Cardinals – the electors as well as those above eighty years of age – were able to share their insights about the various challenges the Church was facing in our times and the qualities the new Pope would require to lead the Church at this point of history. The spiritual environment, before and during the conclave, was enhanced by the thought-provoking meditations that were offered, together with the moments of prayer, invoking fervently the light of the Holy Spirit and seeking the assistance of all the Saints, our heavenly intercessors. Thus, the Cardinal electors were led to have a deep inner disposition of total docility to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.