André Fontenelle
Rome, Italy (Folhapress) – “Look, it was great to be without cell phone!” Dom Odilo Scherer laughed out of journalists the period of imprisonment during the conclave. Jokes aside, the archbishop of São Paulo revealed to the report that he found this year’s “more serene” than the other, twelve years ago, when Francis was elected after the resignation of Bento 16.
“Differently, each conclave is a conclave. I would say that the mood in this was perhaps serene than in the other. The situation of the church, after Pope Francis, collected much more consensus, unanimously greater than in the post 18, which renounced a moment of much turbulence in the church. This naturally reverberated in preparation and also during the conclave [de 2013]Somehow, which was not the case now. Therefore, a climate of much greater serenity, ”he said.
Without breaking confidentiality regarding the scrutiny, the Brazilian cardinals told some details of the conclave. The alleged delay in the only vote on the first day, which began at 5:46 pm (12:46 pm in Brasilia) on Wednesday (7) and only ended at 21h locals, it was really due, as the Italian press had speculated, a long talk by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa. Known preacher, Cantalamessa is not a voter, for being 90 years old, but was invited to speak to the other cardinals.
“His homilies, especially on Holy Friday and during the time of Advent and Lent, have always been much appreciated,” explained Dom Odilo. “In fact the conference was long, but much appreciated and this slows down the beginning of the work. But nothing that compromised, because we did what we needed to do.”
In his speech, Cantalamessa traced a parallel between the current conjuncture and the commemoration of the 1,700 years of the Council of Niceia, which dealt with important church questions, such as the condition of the Son of God of Jesus Christ. The Italian Cardinal reflected on concrete ways to approach the theme in the preaching of the Pope who would be elected.
“Of course the first day has all the explanations, there is a lecture, has organization and everything,” the archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Dom Orani Tempesta, told the report. “But evidently conclave has no time to finish or do things. The schedules are the people who are out. But we don’t even see the time pass, nor have it to mark time or time.”
According to Dom Odilo, not all cardinals knew Cardinal Prevost’s profile well, which helps to explain that his name, little quoted before the conclave, ended as the most voted after four scrutiny.
“It is from the unfolding of the conclave that the name becomes clear. It is natural that not all cardinals know all, especially those nominates most recently. So it is in conviviality that they get to know each other, but it is also in the vote that will appear who collects the greatest consensus. Suddenly some cardinal asks: ‘But who is he?’ ‘Who’s that?’ ‘Who’s that?’ It’s natural. ”
For Dom Orani, “the Holy Spirit acts” in the conduct of the conclave. “Little by little he will show the ways. And let’s see how he leads the history of the church.”
Dom Odilo said that the Brazilian cardinals came to sit together in some meals, and confabulated about the progress of the work. “At break we return to Casa Santa Marta [alojamento dos eleitores]meals, conversation, this is expected to form your opinion. Without, however, that this becomes a kind of rally with a candidate presentation, ”he said.
The post-competition dinner, told the Brazilian cardinals, occurred in a mood of great joy. Leão 14 circulated through the tables, greeting his colleagues, including Brazilians, calling some by name.
The influence of Latin America, evidenced by the victory of a Pope with Peruvian citizenship, was a reason for comments among the cardinals, according to the archbishop of Salvador, Dom Sérgio da Rocha. “It was interesting to reaction from some cardinals after the election, to say,” Yeah, Latin America is offering another Pope. ” Yesterday I heard that. ”
