Cardinals comment before entering 10th meeting, 2 days before conclave

Upon his arrival at the gates of the Holy Office this morning, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, Archbishop of Jakarta, said he was tired: He landed in Rome just last evening from the Indonesian capital after an 18-hour flight.

This means that only one cardinal out of the 133 expected electors is now missing for the conclave. On Saturday, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that Bosnian Cardinal Vinko Puljic would be arriving in Rome at the last minute due to health problems.

“I am happy and open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit,” said the Indonesian cardinal, who expressed hopes for a short conclave.

With little experience — this will be his first conclave — he admits to knowing only “a few” cardinals at this point. He believes that the future pope could come “from anywhere,” but says he feels the need to elect someone who will continue the work begun by Francis.

Arriving in Rome shortly after the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Algiers, said he had seen the College of Cardinals "take shape" during the general congregations. He said he has spotted "many personalities who could be pope" among his peers.

“I have what you might call a heart of an artichoke. Every day I say to myself, 'Ah, that cardinal, what he says and what he is, that's good, that's beautiful!'” said the Dominican. “Today I am at peace, I am sure that the Church will be given a good pope,” he assured.

The cardinal, who has French-Algerian nationality, says he does not know whether the College of Cardinals could elect a Frenchman.

“Perhaps someone born in Algeria, that's possible,” he jokes, with a nod to the papabile status of his friend Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, who was born in Sidi Bel Abbès.

The most important thing for him is that the next pope be “a pastor, a voice for the world, someone who can uphold the values of the Gospels, who can uphold the values of the Beatitudes, who can be the father of the ‘prodigal son.’” In other words, “much of what Pope Francis was,” he believes.

Recognizable by his white beard, Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi, says he is not expecting anything at the moment.

“These are general congregations: there are no discussions, only presentations,” emphasizes the 79-year-old Pakistani.

Just before entering the Vatican, a journalist asks him if there are any disagreements within the group. “Not yet! The arguments haven't started yet!” the cardinal replies with a burst of laughter.

The first cardinal of East Timor, Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, does not know if he is ready for the conclave. “The date has been set, so it doesn't matter, we'll have to go,“ he says with a big smile.

In his view, a profile of the next pope is beginning to emerge, that of a man "who can bring everyone together, a pope who can work while remaining open to today's reality.”

Chaldean Patriarch Raphael Sako also sees a profile emerging for the next pope, who must be “a father and a pastor, capable of carrying the message and preserving the integrity of the Church, but who also understands today's challenges, knows how to dialogue, defend the poor, and bring peace to the world.”

He imagines a relatively short conclave, lasting “two or three days.”

The Iraqi believes that the future pope will continue in the footsteps of Francis, but that he must also be able to read the “signs of the times” in a rapidly changing world.

This opinion seems to be shared by Cardinal Vesco, who believes that the time spent listening to the other cardinals is a “wealth” for the future pope.

“I hope that afterwards we will be able to be a true college of brother cardinals for him,” he explains. “In the end, one will have to be chosen, and the Lord has already chosen him in his heart."