Cardinal William Goh of Singapore has issued a pastoral letter urging “urgent, fervent and unceasing prayers” for the upcoming papal conclave set to begin on May 7.
In his message dated April 29 and sent from Rome, Cardinal Goh said the College of Cardinals is currently gathered in General Congregations to “hear the views and assessment of the respective Cardinals of the situation in our Church today, and what the Church needs to do after Pope Francis.”
He emphasized the critical need for prayerful support, stressing that “it is urgent and important that you all pray for us so that we can discern what kind of Pope the Church needs in this present day, because every Pope brings with him his own charisms.”
Cardinal Goh encouraged the faithful to “organize novenas, rosary and Divine Mercy devotions to pray fervently, unceasingly,” for the cardinal-electors, asking the Holy Spirit to guide them “to elect a good, holy, compassionate, wise and strong pope who will not only be a Shepherd after the heart of Christ, but also courageous in defending the deposit of Faith handed down to the Church through the ages.”
The pastoral letter concluded with Cardinal Goh’s fraternal blessing as he called for solidarity in prayer during this critical period of discernment for the global Church.
