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Archbishop John extends "a heartfelt invitation to all the faithful" to join him "in earnest prayer for the Cardinals"

As the College of Cardinals prepares to select a new Pope, Archbishop John Wilson has called for the Archdiocese of Southwark to unite in prayer as members of the Body of Christ.

In a statement for the Archdiocese, Archbishop John said:

“as the Cardinals embark on this period of spiritual discernment, let us unite with them in prayer”.

While it is the Cardinals who will make the decision for the next Pope, Archbishop John added that through prayer each of us can play our part as members of Christ’s Body, the Church:

“By the grace of our baptism, each one of us is made a living member of the Church, the Body of Christ. United in this sacred identity, we share a common vocation: to follow the Lord as his disciples. In these days of the conclave, I extend a heartfelt invitation to all the faithful to join me in earnest prayer for the Cardinals, who gather in solemn responsibility to elect our new Holy Father. Let us together invoke the Holy Spirit, asking that the sevenfold gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and holy fear, be poured out upon them. May the Holy Spirit speak clearly to their hearts, that they might discern and embrace the will of God with courage and peace.”

Archbishop John encourages us to look to Our Lady and the Apostles as inspiration:

“In the Acts of the Apostles (1:14), we behold a profound moment in the life of the early Church: Our Lady and the Apostles, united in heart and mind, devoting themselves to prayer. Here we see the Church in her purest form: gathered together in prayerful communion, awaiting the promise of the Spirit. This is our model: a Church that prays as one, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, obedient to the divine will”.

Pointing to Scripture again, Archbishop John said:

“We are reminded that the fruits of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (Gal 5:22-23) — are not abstract virtues, but living signs of the Holy Spirit’s presence among us. As we lift our hearts in prayer for the Cardinals and for the Church, let us be guided and inspired by these fruits, that we ourselves may be instruments of unity, hope, and holiness in the life of the Church”.

The Archbishop expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of love for Pope Francis since his death, stating:

“I have been deeply moved by the outpouring of love and prayer offered for Pope Francis. It is a witness to the beauty of being a disciple of Christ, walking together in faith and charity. May we continue in this spirit of communion and devotion, as we prepare to welcome a new Successor of St Peter, trusting always in the providence and mercy of God”. 

Ahead of the conclave, the Cardinals issued a statement urging prayers for them stating they “feel the need to be supported by the prayers of all the faithful."

The conclave begins on 7 May in Rome and if you’d like to learn more about the process and how it works Vatican News has a helpful summary.

Photo credit: © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk