Luxembourg Archbishop to Participate in Conclave for New Pope Selection

Luxembourg’s Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich will take part in the conclave to select the next head of the Catholic church after Pope Francis’ death on Monday, but he does not consider himself a contender for the post.

Hollerich travelled to Rome on Monday evening and will remain there for the duration of the conclave until a new pope is chosen. However, he told broadcaster RTL that he considers other cardinals more suited for the role and that he has no ambitions to become the next pontiff.

Whoever the future pope may be, he will face major challenges, including within the church, according to Hollerich. The church must show that “ït has changed,” he said.

Got the news in prison

Hollerich received the news of the death of Pope Francis when he was holding mass in the prison in Schrassig. “Francis was almost like a father to me. He is a year older than my mother,” said the cardinal, who emphasised the “great goodness” of the deceased head of the Catholic church.

The Luxembourg cardinal had visited the Pope ten days ago, when Francis was already very weak after a lengthy period of illness. He said he was also concerned when he saw the Pope on television on Easter Sunday.

In an official statement Cardinal Hollerich praised “Pope Francis’ invaluable commitment to the most vulnerable and to refugees” as well as the Pope’s ability to use humour to deal with difficult situations. Francis “gave important impulses in difficult times in world politics and within the Church, gave hope and set signs of humanity that will endure beyond his pontificate and for which we are very grateful,” Hollerich said.

(This article was originally published by the Luxemburger Wort. Translation and editing by Kabir Agarwal.)