Countdown to Conclave Begins with Cardinals’ Final Congregations

Vatican City: The countdown to the conclave has commenced as the Catholic Church’s cardinals prepare to hold their final congregations, two scheduled on Monday and one on Tuesday, ahead of the election of Pope Francis’s successor, which is set to begin in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday.

According to Ansa News Agency, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan expressed his hopes on Sunday for the new leader of the Catholic Church. He emphasized the importance of blending the characteristics of the last three popes, highlighting the need for a smile, humility, and simplicity in the next pope.

Archbishop Dolan mentioned that the church could benefit from a combination of the qualities seen in past leaders. He referenced Pope Francis’s approach, alongside the intellectual intensity of Benedict XVI, and John Paul II’s courage and call to follow Jesus. Dolan noted that merging these characteristics would be a blessing for the church.