What happened in the Conclave?
A report from Ines San Martin provides some insight into what led Cardinal Prevost to choose the name Leo XIV. She got some intel into it from Chilean Cardinal Fernando Chomali, who just happened to share a dinner table with the Pope, soon after the 267th Successor of Saint Peter was introduced to the world: Chilean Cardinal Fernando Chomalí described the conclave that elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV as a profoundly spiritual and joyful experience, rooted in prayer and unity. "It was a very impressive ecclesial, spiritual and human experience," Cardinal Chomalí told OSV News on May 9. "I have no idea why, but I felt like I was carrying all of Chile in my heart, in my mind, even in my skin." Cardinal Chomalí, the archbishop of Santiago and Chile's only voting cardinal, said the weight of helping to elect the successor of Peter left him deeply moved. "You become aware of the responsibility of helping name the successor of Peter,...
Thank you for that, Mark. Doing such work, while initially uncomfortable, will strengthen your own faith and thirst for further opportunities to share the treasures of the Christian life. It is a joyful and life-giving task so to do.
ReplyDeleteYears ago I remember a Baptist minister describing the thrill of doing such a witness in the street. "It's like one starving man telling another starving man where to find free food of the best kind."
Back up the work with prayer; next time you do this ask a parishioner or two to pray specifically at the time you're out; that the Lord's Word may touch the hearts of those you meet.
We do need more Catholics on the streets preaching the gospel, people desperately need to experience the love of Christ in a world that is starved of beauty. Well done Mark.
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