Pope selection no ordinary election, cardinal points out

Electing a new pope is vastly different from electing political candidates, Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David has pointed out.

In a radio interview before departing for Rome on Thursday morning, David said that unlike political contests, the papal conclave is not about campaigning or ambition.

“We have a big moral and spiritual obligation to enter into the Conclave not in the spirit of politics but in the spirit of prayer,” he said.

David is one of three Filipino cardinal electors — along with Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and Jose F. Cardinal Advincula — who will participate in choosing the next pope following the death of Pope Francis.

He clarified that the process of selecting the next pontiff cannot be considered an election in the traditional sense, but rather a spiritual retreat guided by the Holy Spirit.

“No one aspires to become pope,” he said, “because it entails a great responsibility for the whole Church, including shepherding more than one billion Catholics in the world.”

The cardinal appealed to the faithful to pray fervently as the conclave approaches, which must begin within 15 to 20 days after a pope’s death. “We ask for prayers so that the Holy Spirit will guide us in electing the deserving lead shepherd of the Church,” he said.

The process of selecting the next pontiff cannot be considered an election in the traditional sense, but rather a spiritual retreat guided by the Holy Spirit.

He also cautioned against spreading misinformation and asked the public to refrain from sharing unverified information, particularly regarding the Conclave and related Church matters.

According to Vatican data, 135 of the 252 cardinals worldwide are eligible to vote in the Conclave. Of these, 108 were appointed by Pope Francis, 22 by Pope Benedict XVI, and five by Pope John Paul II.

The elevation of Filipino prelates to the College of Cardinals began with Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, Archbishop of Cotabato, in 2014.

He was followed by Cardinal Advincula in 2020, then Archbishop of Capiz and now Archbishop of Manila. Cardinal David is the most recent, elevated in late 2024.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at age 88. His funeral will be on Saturday.