VATICAN CITY (AP) — For the first time since the death of Pope Francis, cardinals don dey gather as dem prepare for the crucial conclave wey go start on May 7. Dis event no be small matter, as 135 cardinals go enter di Sistine Chapel to choose who go fit follow Francis as di next pope.
Di conclave wey don set for May 7 come after di cardinals first meet for informal discussions where plenty issues go dey table, make dem fit understand each other well before dem go dey locked up for di election. Dis decision to stretch di timeline come after some cardinals express di need to find common ground on di candidate wey dem go support.
“Dis one na time to demonstrate unity,” Nigerian Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan talk as he highlight di importance of finding a candidate wey fit continue di work of Francis. “We no come here like political rally; we just wan find a pope.”
Cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi from Argentina, wey also di archbishop of Córdoba, share di hope say dem go find a successor wey go carry forward di pastoral mission of di late pope, especially for di marginalized and di voiceless.
Cardinal baldassare Reina, dey homily for St. Peter’s Basilica, emphasize say dem go need to run away from “power alliances” and focus on selecting someone wey go maintain Francis’ reforms. Di elections no go easy, especially as di church continues to explore challenges around its teachings on social justice, di LGBTQ+ community, and di role of women.
As di cardinals prepare to seclude themselves, dem also remember di security measures wey dem go take. Di conclave comes with strict rules to prevent outside influence and ensure di integrity of di election process. Recent approval from di Vatican means no contact with di outside world during di voting sessions, with everyone inside di chapel under tight security.
“We dey prepare for di future,” said Cardinal Vincent Nichols from Westminster. “E no easy to align our thoughts, but di spirit of unity dey guide us.”
Meanwhile, speculation dey rise about how di election go go, particularly concerning di participation of Cardinal Angelo Becciu, wey don face legal troubles. Him status to vote remain unclear, but e don join di discussions leading to di conclave.
As dem prepare for di historic moment, many dey wonder who go emerge as di next leader for di 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. Di College of Cardinals na a mix of new and old, with many wey don feel di need for change.
“We get di time to deliberate and seek consensus,” said Indian Cardinal Anthony Poola. “E no Nigeria style; na serious matter we dey talk here.”
As more preparations dey continue, di interest in di upcoming conclave don peak, with strong public focus on di issues dem go face, especially around di direction di church wan take under a new leader. Di conclave now dey set to become an event wey go shape di future of Catholicism for years to come.
