Jozef De Kesel, the Emeritus Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, has shared his experiences before and during the conclave that was tasked with electing a successor to Pope Francis, involving 133 cardinals.
Prior to the conclave, De Kesel expressed confidence that the Church would not reverse the progress made during Pope Francis’s 12-year pontificate, stating at the Belgian Pontifical College in Rome that Francis’s leadership had left a definitive mark on the Church.
The Belgian cardinal described the period leading up to the cardinal assembly as particularly engaging, with all cardinals, including those without voting rights, gathering at the Vatican for nine days to discuss the Church’s current state, challenges, and the profile of the next pope, highlighting the significance of informal interactions like coffee breaks for building rapport.
A significant majority of cardinals advocated for a humble and compassionate Church that remains connected to the people and responsive to major societal issues such as migration and climate change, according to De Kesel.
Despite the Church’s diversity, De Kesel sensed a consensus among the cardinals and noted that they do not expect the new pope to act independently. Important issues from Francis’s tenure, like Church decentralisation, remain unresolved, he pointed out.
Addressing allegations of covering up sexual abuse, De Kesel declared his support for a zero-tolerance policy and expressed confidence that the new pope would uphold this stance.
