KUALA LUMPUR — As the Catholic Church prepares to gather in Rome to elect a new pope, voices from Asia and the Global South are urging the faithful to focus not on personalities, but on prayer and discernment.
Cardinal Sebastian Francis of Malaysia, who will participate in the conclave for the first time, described the process as “a sacred retreat,” emphasising that it is unlike any political election. “We do not go to Rome with a list of candidates,” he said. “We go with open hearts, asking who the Holy Spirit has chosen to guide the Church forward.”
Filipino Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David echoed this sentiment before departing for the Vatican. “There are no slogans, no campaigns — just prayer,” he said. “We are not choosing a celebrity; we are seeking a shepherd.”
“A conclave is a retreat. The cardinals will pray, and it is in the spirit of prayer that we will ask not whom we want to elect, but whom the Lord wants to succeed Pope Francis. That’s why 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 for the continuity of the mission of the Church,” said Filipino Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David
In his interview with journalists, David said that since the conclave is a “retreat,” part of the cardinals’ duty is to discern by getting to know their fellow cardinals better.
One way by which they get acquainted with each other, according to David, is by writing each other personal letters.
He said another way is by doing research, noting that there is a website compiling the biographical data and other basic information about the different cardinals. “I am there. I was surprised, I didn’t even know who did my write-up,” he said.
The upcoming conclave comes at a pivotal moment for the Church, as Catholic communities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, now home to the majority of the world’s Catholics, call for a pope who will continue Pope Francis’ legacy of synodality, social justice, and mercy.
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Myanmar, a long-time advocate for peace and dialogue, noted that “the next pope must carry forward the Gospel of inclusion. Pope Francis showed us that the Church must be with the poor, the forgotten, and those on the margins.”
From East Africa, Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel of Ethiopia reflected on the growing moral leadership of the Global South. “We bring voices shaped by suffering and hope. Our peoples know the meaning of resilience, and our faith communities are vibrant, young, and ready to serve.”
Despite media speculation in some countries, particularly in Asia, Church leaders have cautioned against turning the conclave into a popularity contest. “We leave it to the cardinal electors to decide who will succeed Pope Francis,” said Fr Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs, said on church-run Radio Veritas.
Secillano, who is also the spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Manila, added, “The independence of the electors must be respected, and the least we can do is pray for all the cardinal electors.”
In the spirit of Pope Francis’ vision, Cardinal Sebastian encouraged Catholics across Malaysia and beyond to “entrust this time to the Lord.” He added, “The future of the Church is not about power or prestige. It is about humility, courage, and love.”
