LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – As tens of thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square yesterday for the funeral of Pope Francis, Malta’s Archbishop Charles Scicluna called on Catholics around the world to begin praying for the next pope and to pledge their obedience to him, saying that only through faith can the mission of the Church continue.
“Jesus tells us, ‘Choose whom you want,’ but the flock is mine. I paid for it with my blood”, Scicluna said, after the ceremony. “We must remember that Jesus Christ remains the true head of the Church”.
Scicluna reflected on the powerful atmosphere, calling the moment “deeply emotional” and in line with the late Pope’s personal wishes for prayerful solemnity over spectacle. “Even before the arrival of world leaders, the square was filled with silence. That was Francis’ legacyùreflection, not fanfare”.
As the Church mourns a transformative pontiff and prepares for a new chapter, Scicluna offered a final word: “All we can do is pray. Francis always asked us to pray for himùnow he prays for us. May we find peace, protect our planet, and walk in solidarity as one people”.
Now the Church is turning its gaze toward the future, and attention has shifted to the upcoming papal conclave. The election process to choose the successor to Saint Peter must begin between May 6 and May 12, depending on when preparations are finalized. Of the 252 members of the College of Cardinals, only 133 are eligible to vote, having not reached the age of 80 and being present in Rome.
A two-thirds supermajorityùat least 89 votesùwill be needed to elect the next pope. One of the names being quietly circulated among Vatican watchers is Cardinal Mario Grech, the former bishop of Gozo, whose reputation for theological depth and synodal leadership has caught the attention of many.
In 2005 he was appointed Bishop of Gozo, a post he held until 2019 when he was named by Pope Francis as the Pro-Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, before becoming Secretary General in September 2020. It’s a position which has given him a unique edge: throughout the course of his work, plenty of cardinals will have had to interact with his office.
Pope Francis placed special emphasis on the Synod as he sought to reform the Church’s structures and make them more inclusive and partici- patory. Ideologically initially considered something of a traditionalist, Grech expressed his opposition to divorce, IVF and the morning- after-pill during debates on such in Malta, but has also called on the Church to embrace gay and divorced couples.
More recently, Grech has also advocated for the involvement of more women in Church life His more recent progressive leanings have not been without backlash: in 2022, Cardinal Gerhard Müller – who, at 77 years old, will be among those electing the new pope – said that Grech was leading a process intended to “undermine the Catholic faith and the Catholic church” through the Synod, which he also described as a “hostile takeover” of the Church.
Insiders have been divided on whether Grech stands a change of being the next pontiff. Some have placed him in the top five possible names, others have barely considered him. Conclaves in recent times have typically been swift; Pope Francis was elected in 2013 after just five rounds of voting in under two days. However, if no consensus is reached after three days, the process allows for a brief pause before continuing in additional rounds.
– Photo Archdiocese of Malta –
(ITALPRESS/MNA)
