The cardinals are getting to know one another

Pope Francis “lived what he preached all his life, and for us that is an important message,” said Cardinal Fernando Chomali, Archbishop of Santiago, Chile. He arrived with his predecessor at the head of the diocese of the Chilean capital, Cardinal Celestino Aos Braco. The pontiff's passing makes Cardinal Chomali “very sad, but we continue to move forward because he believed in the resurrection.”

“We must think a lot about him, about how he touched our lives,” continued the man whom the pontiff created cardinal during his last consistory on December 7. “I’m very moved because there are so many people who love him, who are there from early in the morning,” he said before leaving to join the general congregations.

Pope Francis “gave himself more than just in words,” said Sicilian Cardinal Francesco Montenegro, archbishop emeritus of Agrigento. “That’s the memory he leaves us: to live to the end,” he added.

Asked about the general mood within the College of Cardinals, the Italian said that he and the other cardinals were deeply saddened. Finally, addressing the Catholic faithful, he urged them to continue to “have confidence.” “The Lord has given signs. The last popes have been gifts; I don't think He’s turning away,” he concluded.

“For the moment we’re preparing, we haven’t yet entered into the heart of the matter,” said Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, explaining that they were currently busy with ”organization.”

“We’re waiting for our other brothers to arrive,” he emphasized. “The people of God are with us; this is not something we’re doing alone. Behind us there are so many faithful who are waiting, praying, and we carry them within us,” assured the former prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Asked about the case of Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was stripped of his rights as a cardinal elector by Pope Francis in 2020 but is claiming his right to participate in the next conclave, he explained that “this will be discussed,” but that for the moment he couldn’t say anything.

Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Catholic Education—now the Dicastery for Culture and Education—Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi emphasized the “very natural atmosphere” prevailing among the cardinals. “There’s undoubtedly an atmosphere of listening to the Holy Spirit who assists the Church,” he assured the media, saying that the cardinal electors—of whom he is not a member, being over 80 years old—“will know how to interpret the will of God.”

Regarding the case of Cardinal Becciu, he explained that he didn’t know what had been decided so far, but stated, “It’s the College of Cardinals that will decide.”

The last to arrive, Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Algiers, explained that for the moment, the cardinals were “truly focused on Pope Francis.” “It’s the pope and his message that bring us together these days,” he said, adding that he was impressed “to see the world united around the figure of the pope.”

“The next stage has not yet begun,” he insisted. “We’re getting to know each other and taking our stances,” he concluded, emphasizing the “good” atmosphere among the cardinals.

It should be noted that Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and considered by some media outlets to be a papabile, made his way through the crowd of journalists without speaking to the group.