THE Bishop of the Diocese of Kalookan and one of the electors in the forthcoming conclave, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, has appealed to Roman Catholics to offer prayers for the cardinals who will elect the successor of the late Pope Francis next month.

In a social media post on Friday night, he noted that praying would be a much better move than pushing for certain candidates.

“Instead, let us accompany the electors with our prayers, not our preferences. Let us fast from speculation and feast on hope. Let us encourage one another to deepen our faith, trusting that the Lord – who has not abandoned His Church – will once again raise up a shepherd after His own heart,” David said.

“Like Christ who is fully divine and fully human, so too is his Body, the Church. We must constantly ensure that its divinity is never eclipsed by the crassness of human powerplay, or obscured by traditional pomp and regalia that, though part of our history, are not always aligned with the essence and mission of the Church. These, too, require ongoing grounding and renewal, in response to the new pastoral challenges and emerging ‘signs of the times.’”

He also reminded the people that “the election of a pope is not a political contest but a spiritual discernment.”

“While it is natural to have hopes or preferences for certain personalities, we are ultimately invited to trust in the work of the Holy Spirit and the solemn responsibility entrusted to the College of Cardinals,” he said.

David, also president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), noted that those creating or sharing campaign videos, even with good intentions, “risk turning a sacred discernment into a worldly spectacle.”

“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,” he said.

“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. They are far removed from the reverent and prayerful reality of the actual event.”

He encouraged the public to share Scripture instead of endorsement.

“If we must speak, let us strive to speak words of encouragement, not endorsement. If we must share something online, let it be Scripture, reflections that edify, prayers that nurture faith, strengthen hope, and foster love – love that alone can bring about justice and peace, mercy and compassion, healing and reconciliation in our wounded world,” he said.

David, Cardinal Jose Advincula, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are part of the College of Cardinals that will convene next month to elect the next pontiff.

The papacy was declared “sede vacante,” Latin for the Holy See is vacant, after the passing of Pope Francis on April 21. Philippine News Agency

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