Tagbilaran bishop calls for prayers as conclave begins

Diocese of Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy has called on the faithful to pray for cardinal-electors as they begin to gather to elect the next Catholic Church leader.

"We pray to the Lord that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen the Cardinal-electors as they elect a new Pope who will serve as the shepherd of the universal church," Uy said.

He then shared the following prayer:

God, eternal shepherd, who governs your flock with unfailing care, grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church who will please you by his holiness and show us watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Meanwhile, in a Mass led by Giovanni Battista Re, the Italian cardinal who also led the funeral Mass for Pope Francis, he asked the Holy Spirit to "implore his light and strength so that the pope elected may be whom the Church and humanity need at this difficult and complex turning point in history."

Re also urged all 133 cardinals who are set to participate in the conclave to put aside "all personal considerations" and demonstrate love, "the only force capable of changing the world."

He also issued a strong call to "maintain the unity of the church," not through "uniformity," but through their "communion in diversity."

The Italian cardinal reminded cardinal-electors that the election of the new pope is not just about "a simple change of people," but a symbolic return of St. Peter, the apostle, as he prayed "for the good of the church and of humanity."

The College of Cardinals — bishops and Vatican officials selected by the late Pope Francis — will enter the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, 7 May, "not before 7:00 p.m." (Vatican time) for a first round of conclave voting.

Black or white smoke is used to represent the cardinals' decision for the day, billowing from the chapel's chimney.

Black smoke indicates that no pope has been selected, while white smoke indicates that a new pope has been selected.