A Filipino cardinal warned that the conclave is a sacred process of spiritual discernment and not a political contest, as he urged Catholics to refrain from campaigning or speculating on the next pope.
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, who is in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis and the upcoming conclave, reminded the faithful that the election of a new pope is “guided not by popularity or strategy, but by prayer, humility, and the collective listening of the Church’s shepherds to God’s will.”
“Creating or sharing campaign videos, even with good intentions, risks turning a sacred discernment into a worldly spectacle,” David said. “It may inadvertently pressure or politicize the conscience of the electors, and distract from the silence and prayer needed to truly hear the voice of the Spirit.”
The cardinal also cautioned against fictional portrayals of the conclave, noting that “films and series about the conclave may be interesting, but let us not forget: they are fictional, deliberately sensationalized to be dramatic, entertaining, and profitable.”
He called on Catholics to accompany the cardinal-electors through prayer rather than preferences. “Let us fast from speculation and feast on hope,” he said.
David urged the Church to remain rooted in Christ’s mission and not be overshadowed by “the crassness of human powerplay” or “traditional pomp and regalia that, though part of our history, are not always aligned with the essence and mission of the Church.”
“If we must speak, let us strive to speak words of encouragement, not endorsement,” he added. “If we must share something online, let it be Scripture, reflections that edify, prayers that nurture faith, strengthen hope, and foster love.”
He described Pope Francis as a role model, saying that “to walk in his memory is to keep alive his spirit.”
“Above all, let us keep our gaze on Christ, the true Head of the Church, who alone can give us the Pope we need—not the one we think we want,” David said.
