By Rosalind Russell – As members of the College of Cardinals met yesterday, all 133 cardinals who plan to enter the conclave to elect a new pope had arrived in Rome, the Vatican press office said.
Locally, Bishop Thomas Dowd of the Diocese of Sault Ste Marie has announced that four sites throughout the diocese will host special masses this evening for the Conclave.
He says the four sites including the Anishinabe Spiritual Centre south of Espanola (five minutes) on Highway Six will offer a special bilingual (French and English) Mass at 7 PM this evening for the Conclave and the election of a new Pope.
He adds everyone is invited with refreshments to follow.
Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, said 26 cardinals spoke at the morning session yesterday focusing on canon law; the importance of Catholic charities “in advocating for the poor”; and the need for a pope who “should be a person present and close, a door of access to communion, to unity in a world where the world order is in crisis.”
He adds the cardinals will go into seclusion until they make their final decision and elect a new Pope, a process that can days, even weeks.
He says they also spoke about evangelization, the challenges of climate change and war, and “they spoke with concern about divisions within the church”.
Others spoke of a lack of vocations to priesthood and religious life in some regions, and the importance of the family.
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