By Rodolfo Dacleson II
(May 1, 2025) – A diplomat from the Vatican on Monday said the successor of Pope Francis has already been chosen by the Holy Spirit ahead of the much-anticipated conclave.
In an interview with CBCP News, Archbishop Charles Brown, the apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, reiterated that the papal election is guided by divine will.
“I think it’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit has already decided who the next pope will be,” said Brown. “It’s up to the cardinals now to make that decision manifest.”
He also encouraged everyone to trust the process and pray that the papal conclave would lead to the right decision.
“We can be confident that the Holy Spirit will never abandon the Church, and whoever is chosen will be the perfect person for the time in which we live,” added Brown.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has pleaded with Filipinos to avoid politicizing the papal conclave.
ALSO READ: Cardinals voting in papal conclave guided by Holy Spirit, says CBCP official
It came after Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was tagged among the top contenders to succeed Pope Francis, according to international media outlets.
Tagle and fellow Filipino cardinals, Pablo Virgilio David and Jose Advincula, will convene with 130 other cardinals at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican to elect the next pope starting May 7.
A papal conclave could last for several days until a candidate secures two-thirds of the votes. In 2013, Pope Francis was elected after two days.
On Saturday, the late pontiff was buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, Italy. He passed away at 88 years old due to a stroke on April 21.
“Everyone should be praying for the conclave, reflecting, thanking God for the gift of Pope Francis, and praying for the cardinals who now have this very important job of discerning the decision of the Holy Spirit,” said Brown.
(PM)
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