For Neal Anderson, the excitement about who the next pope will be is very real. As a seminarian at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, he and his classmates will have a front row seat to what happens over the next few weeks.
“There is a mood of gratefulness among the seminarians as we reflect on the gift of such a fatherly pope,” Anderson said. “There is also excitement as the cardinals prepare to choose the next pope. We are excited to see who the Holy Spirit chooses as the Church’s next guardian.”
The 135 cardinals eligible to elect the next pope will enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave May 7. They have already been meeting, offering reflections on the state of the Church, its mission in the world, the challenges it faces and the qualities needed in the next pope, according to OSV News.
To Anderson, being in Rome at this time of transition is a gift. He and his fellow seminarians have been offering Masses and praying the rosary for the new pope.
“I just try to take it in moment by moment,” he said. “The beauty of the papacy has been magnified for me during this time.”
Like Anderson, transitional Deacon Nathaniel Daubner, who is slated to be ordained to the priesthood this June, thinks of the relationship between seminarians and bishops, especially the pope, like the relationship between a father and a son.
“I was deeply saddened to lose a father with the death of Pope Francis,” Deacon Daubner said. “But with the coming conclave, I am also excited to see who my new father, in the person of our new pope, will be. While this time of transition is inevitably filled with great sadness, there is also great hope and excitement in my heart surrounding the papal conclave, especially as I prepare to give my life to the Church and her ministry as a priest.”
He said he believes that Pope Francis will be remembered for his fatherhood.
“Reflecting back on his papacy, it is very clear that he cared deeply for his spiritual children, especially those children which the rest of society seemed to forget,” he said.
Tobias Ellis, a Theology II student at Saint Paul Seminary, also is excited to watch the events of the next few weeks unfold.
“It is an amazing opportunity to be in the seminary during this time of transition, as many of my classmates and formators are very knowledgeable about the potential candidates and process of election,” he said. “Their excitement is rubbing off on me, and I am trying to learn all that I can. There is a great spirit of hope and anticipation in the seminary.”
Being in formation to be a leader in the Church, Ellis said he wants the best for the Church and hopes to see that same desire in the next pope.
“In our Church history courses, we learned about times when a conclave created deep divisions in the Church,” he said. “We need to also pray for unity among the body of Christ and that any tensions that threaten to tear it apart might be resolved.”
Deacon Daubner said he hopes that our next pope will be a man of deep prayer and holiness.
“While our present world is in much need of healing and unity, none of this can be achieved without a deep and ever-present relationship with Christ,” he said. “This is the only way to become a truly healing and unifying presence among the people.”