Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Cardinal Wuerl describes spiritual experience of conclave

Cardinal Wuerl describes spiritual experience of conclave

Last updated on: February 27, 2013 at 11:14 pm by CNA Daily News

Cardinal Wuerl describes spiritual experience of conclave 2013-02-27T23:14:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rome, Italy, Feb 27, 2013 / 04:14 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A conclave is similar to going on a rigorous spiritual retreat that is pervaded by silence, according to Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, D.C.

“It’s like going on a very, very strong, heavy retreat,” explained Cardinal Wuerl in a Feb. 26 interview with CNA at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

“It’s heavy in the sense of leaving aside everything else, but this time the retreat’s master is the Holy Spirit,” he recalled.

He believes that while the conclave is focused on the actual voting, it is also a time of prayer and being open to the Holy Spirit. “I will be. And I’m sure it will be the same for all of the cardinals there, taking this time of quiet simply to open our hearts to that voice of the Spirit.”

Cardinal Wuerl took part in the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict by assisting a sick cardinal. Since he was made a cardinal in 2010, this will be his conclave as an elector.

“There’s a silence that pervades the entire conclave, particularly in the Sistine Chapel,” he said.

“I think that sustaining the serenity of spirit is why the whole idea of the conclave is quietness.”

According to the cardinal, the next Pope will have two major challenges: fighting secularism and being media savvy.

“Great secularism is pervading the Church and prevailing all around us, so it brings a sense of urgency that we need to be re-proposing the Gospel,” the cardinal remarked.

“He will need to be able to reach out through all the means of communication today, especially social communication to be present all over the world,” he added.

Cardinal Wuerl said that while a Pope cannot be physically present worldwide, he can use social media as a way to be present electronically.

He added that the most important thing for people to do now is to pray and ask God to send the Holy Spirit on the cardinals during the conclave.

“The expectation of all of us should be that out of this conclave will come, by God’s providential plan, the Pope who will guide us well into the future,” said Cardinal Wuerl.

In his view, Pope Benedict’s primary legacy will be his insistence on the compatibility of faith and reason.

But his pastoral ministry and his call to the New Evangelization will also be among his accomplishments, the D.C. cardinal added.

“He’s urged the entire Church to take a look at people who should be with us but have drifted away.”

“Our task is to re-propose to this very secular world a wonderful mystery, a wonderful revelation of God being with us in Christ,” he said.

Some in the media have floated that Cardinal Wuerl could become the next Pope, but he gives little weight to that idea.

“We have to keep our focus on the realm of reality and not fantasy,” he quipped.

Vatican

Previous Post

February 27, 2013

Cardinal says next Pope likely to be young

Next Post

February 28, 2013 Obama officials, Republican group advocate 'gay marriage'

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am a day when the high priest enters the Most Holy Place once a year to make atonement. What day am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Passover The Sabbath The Day of Atonement The Day of Trumpets