As the conclave to elect the next pope looms, cardinals express their visions for the future of the Church through their Sunday homilies.
Days Away from Conclave, Cardinals Share Their Aspirations from the Pulpit

Days Away from Conclave, Cardinals Share Their Aspirations from the Pulpit
With the papal conclave approaching, cardinals in Rome make their intentions clear during Sunday Masses.
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of France warmly engaged with parishioners at Santa Maria ai Monti on Sunday, while Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary made a heartfelt request for prayers for his fellow cardinals at a neighboring church near the renowned Colosseum. Meanwhile, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of Congo joined an array of international priests during Mass at his titular church in western Rome. These three cardinals, though not universally deemed frontrunners, are among those likely to be considered for the papacy as the conclave approaches on Wednesday.
While their gatherings may not have resembled campaign events, the homilies they delivered and their interactions with parishioners provided an insight into their aspirations and what qualities they may hope to see in the next pontiff. Cardinals are assigned titular churches while in Rome, allowing them to preside over Mass in these locations. Some, including Cardinal Aveline and notable contender Cardinal Luis Tagle from the Philippines, led services in their titular churches the previous week, with Cardinal Tagle attracting numerous Filipino worshippers in Centocelle.
In contrast, Italian favorites Cardinals Pietro Parolin and Pierbattista Pizzaballa chose to abstain from public speaking this Sunday, taking a strategic approach reminiscent of political candidates, holding their cards close to avoid any missteps that might undermine their positions within the church hierarchy.
While their gatherings may not have resembled campaign events, the homilies they delivered and their interactions with parishioners provided an insight into their aspirations and what qualities they may hope to see in the next pontiff. Cardinals are assigned titular churches while in Rome, allowing them to preside over Mass in these locations. Some, including Cardinal Aveline and notable contender Cardinal Luis Tagle from the Philippines, led services in their titular churches the previous week, with Cardinal Tagle attracting numerous Filipino worshippers in Centocelle.
In contrast, Italian favorites Cardinals Pietro Parolin and Pierbattista Pizzaballa chose to abstain from public speaking this Sunday, taking a strategic approach reminiscent of political candidates, holding their cards close to avoid any missteps that might undermine their positions within the church hierarchy.