Cardinals Soane Patita Mafi of Tonga and John Ribat of Papua New Guinea are set to participate in the upcoming Vatican Conclave to elect the next pope, following the passing of Pope Francis.
The Vatican announced the passing of Pope Francis on Monday at the age of 88.
Cardinal Mafi was appointed by Pope Francis in 2015 and is the first from Tonga to hold this position.
Cardinal Ribat, the Archbishop of Port Moresby, became Papua New Guinea’s first cardinal in 2016. His appointment was a significant step in Pope Francis’ efforts to ensure that Catholics from all parts of the world are represented in the Church’s leadership.
The participation of these Pacific Cardinals in the conclave will not only influence the selection of the next pope but also serve as a testament to the Vatican’s recognition of diverse voices in shaping the future of the Church.
The Prime Minister will represent New Zealand at the funeral for Pope Francis on Saturday, after attending ANZAC day services in Gallipoli the day prior.
“I will join those at St Peter’s Basilica mourning the loss of Pope Francis, while celebrating his service to more than one billion Catholics across the world, including almost 450,000 in New Zealand,” Mr Luxon says.
Conclave
Conclave is a sacred and solemn assembly where cardinals gather to choose a new Pope.
The conclave is held in the Sistine Chapel within Vatican City, and once it begins, the cardinals are sealed off from all external communication to preserve the integrity and sanctity of the process.
Ballots are cast in a series of secret votes until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority. The result is signaled to the world through a chimney atop the chapel: white smoke announces the election of a new pope, while black smoke indicates that no decision has yet been reached.
The conclave is a time of great prayer and hope for the Catholic church, as 1.5 billion followers wait for their new leader.
