CBCP offers Holy Rosary prayer, guidance for cardinal electors

MANILA, Philippines — Representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) commissions, parish workers, and a Catholic youth group offered a Holy Rosary prayer for the conclave and the guidance for cardinal electors.

The Holy Rosary service was held at the CBCP chapel in Intramuros, Manila, around 6 p.m.

READ: Doors of Sistine Chapel close, conclave begins – Vatican

According to YouthPinoy Representative Jan Gianan, they are praying that cardinals will be given the discernment to pick whoever the Holy Spirit has chosen.

“We pray that the cardinals will discern the next pope,” Gianan, who was among those who led the prayer, said in an interview after the prayer service.

Asked about the qualities of a pope he would like to be elected, Gianan said he has no personal preference and just wants “a man of God.”

“A man who will reflect Christ. You will see that this man is God-filled and Christ-filled,” he added.

On Wednesday, some 133 cardinal electors, under the age of 80 gathered at the Vatican from five continents to pick a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month after a 12-year-long papacy.

Last April 21, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis died at 88 due to complications of a stroke.

Earlier Wednesday, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan, took a solemn oath of secrecy ahead of the papal conclave. They are among the 133 cardinal electors. /cb