http://www.lastampa.it/2013/03/27/esteri/vatican-insider/en/we-rejoice-to-have-a-pope-that-the-world-needs-and-asia-needs-o3kln33aAGod1l8YFtJVeO/pagina.html The Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay and also President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC), was one of the 10 cardinal electors from Asia that voted in the conclave which elected Pope Francis. In this exclusive interview, he reflects on that conclave and the election of the first pope from Latin America. This was your first conclave. You elected a pope. What were your feelings then? I felt very, very strongly the presence of the Holy Spirit was guiding us, and I felt too the effect of prayers, people all over the world supporting us with their prayers. There was great joy at the end of it, you feel this is what God wanted, this is what God has led us to, and here is a man chosen by God. What was his face like as the voting began to indicate him? It was like he was accepting God’s will. He’s a man of God. I could see he was accepting God’s will and obeying what the Lord wanted. It was very clear that he was the man the Lord wants. He felt and we all felt that the Lord wanted him, and he was not going to refuse the cross when it was being given to him. That was his attitude: I’ll carry the Cross; I’ll be Simon of Cyrene to Jesus. Did he say that? No, but that was the thought that came to my mind. There was no doubt in our minds; in everybody’s mind it was the same thing: here is God’s choice India had five votes in the conclave. At the beginning was it so clear? Well the Holy Spirit was indicating already, the Holy Spirit was leading us in a particular direction. God was there right through. It was clear. We were happy also; there was no point in going on. The message also was clear also that we were all of one mind, one heart, united, open to the Spirit and open to the needs of the world, and we wanted to participate really in giving to the Church and to the world a leader, the Successor of Peter, and the vicar of Christ on earth.
Locutions.org: Mar03 3. The Lord’s Choice, The Next Pope Jesus I do not abandon my servants. I do not give them my promise and not keep it. My word is this. The conclave that is about to begin will bring forth a startling pope, one that no one would ever have thought of because he is so hidden in my heart. He walks in my Spirit and he knows my desires. He follows a light that has been with him for years and years. The same light that guided him to the papacy will continue to guide him. Because he follows my light, both the world and the Church will be blessed. I will not allow anyone to block his ascendency to the Chair of Peter. Although many will be totally surprised, I will not allow them to stand in the way. I will clear away all the obstacles and will present him to the cardinals as the one whom I have chosen. Even with these clear signs, some will not accept my choice, but they will be in the minority. Most will say, “The Lord has clearly shown us his choice”. Mar05 5. The Holy Spirit’s Actions, The Next Pope Mary The time is too precious and the hour is too momentous to allow this decision to rest in the hands of man. The cardinals will vote and, according to the established procedures, their votes will elect the new pope. That will not change. It is before they elect a candidate that the Spirit will move in a surprising way. He knows the choice of my heart. He knows what needs to be done to bring forth this priest son. He will invite the cardinals to yield to his promptings. If they do not, then he will increase his manifestations. If those in charge continue to resist him, then he will raise up other cardinals. They will come forth with the Spirit’s words of direction. However, the human cooperation of the cardinals is needed. The new pope must receive their votes. That will not change but the way the cardinals arrive at that vote will be seen by all as the clear promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Phillip, great story ! Just so you know ( I know you're new to this forum ,it takes alittle getting used to ) there is a thread set up already for all stories about Pope Francis . Go to " Forum " (upper left corner,) scroll down to " Catholic Church Title, and under it is Pope Francis. This way everyone can find all his stories in one place. Thank you.
This was your first conclave. You elected a pope. What were your feelings then? I felt very, very strongly the presence of the Holy Spirit was guiding us, and I felt too the effect of prayers, people all over the world supporting us with their prayers. There was great joy at the end of it, you feel this is what God wanted, this is what God has led us to, and here is a man chosen by God. He felt too the effect of prayers, people all over the world supporting them with their prayers. I felt too that it was all our prayers lifting up the conclave to God, to the Holy Spirit that helped moved this conclave. Let's keep praying for our shepherds!
