Lubbock Bishop Talks about Start of Papal Conclave
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: March 12, 2013
As the conclave has started to pick the next Pope, many people are watching the Vatican waiting to see who will be the next leader. That includes a group of students from Christ the King Cathedral who are in Rome on a planned spring break trip.
Bishop Placido Rodriguez said thousands of Catholics here on the South Plains have spent weeks in prayer.
Bishop Rodriguez says prayer is what the Cardinals are using to help them decide who among them will become the next Pope.
"It is a very sacred duty, and it is to be a leader of over one billion Catholics in the world," said Bishop Rodriguez.
Bishop Rodriguez also said he expects a decision soon, and if it does happen soon, those students from Christ the King Cathedral would get to witness history. "I hope that if it is done within the next 24 hours, they'll be lucky people to be there and witness this historic moment," said Bishop Rodriguez.
Bishop Rodriguez said the tradition through which the college of cardinals votes is set through tradition, and is not necessarily secret.
"They need this kind of privacy and freedom so they can exercise, this is not a kind of political campaign, or anything at all, rather it is a very sacred duty," said Bishop Rodriguez.
A few Americans have had their names talked about as possible front runners in this vote, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, and Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston. Bishop Rodriguez said it's important to note while their names are mentioned, it's not a popularity contest.
"They are popular and that is well and wonderful, however the cardinals are really thinking 'what is the mind of God?;' 'who will step up and assume that awesome responsibility?'" said Bishop Rodriguez.
The next vote will take place Wednesday morning, and the signal for a new Pope is white smoke coming from the chimney.
Bishop Placido Rodriguez said thousands of Catholics here on the South Plains have spent weeks in prayer.
Bishop Rodriguez says prayer is what the Cardinals are using to help them decide who among them will become the next Pope.
"It is a very sacred duty, and it is to be a leader of over one billion Catholics in the world," said Bishop Rodriguez.
Bishop Rodriguez also said he expects a decision soon, and if it does happen soon, those students from Christ the King Cathedral would get to witness history. "I hope that if it is done within the next 24 hours, they'll be lucky people to be there and witness this historic moment," said Bishop Rodriguez.
Bishop Rodriguez said the tradition through which the college of cardinals votes is set through tradition, and is not necessarily secret.
"They need this kind of privacy and freedom so they can exercise, this is not a kind of political campaign, or anything at all, rather it is a very sacred duty," said Bishop Rodriguez.
A few Americans have had their names talked about as possible front runners in this vote, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, and Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston. Bishop Rodriguez said it's important to note while their names are mentioned, it's not a popularity contest.
"They are popular and that is well and wonderful, however the cardinals are really thinking 'what is the mind of God?;' 'who will step up and assume that awesome responsibility?'" said Bishop Rodriguez.
The next vote will take place Wednesday morning, and the signal for a new Pope is white smoke coming from the chimney.
