The Catholic Church on Sunday says the selection process of a Pope, is usually done all under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Rev. Fr. Anthony Thompson, the priest in charge of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Tedi, Ojo, Lagos, gave the clarification during the celebration of the Feast of Pentecost.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, Nigerian Catholics on Sunday joined counterparts in the world to celebrate the Feast of the Pentecost Sunday to commemorate the day the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus Christ’s Apostles.
This year’s theme was “Send Forth Your Spirit and Renew the Face of the Earth.”
The feast marks the end of the Paschal Season of Easter and the beginning of Ordinary Time in the Church’s liturgical calendar.
It is often referred to as the “birthday of the Church” and the beginning of gospel preaching to the nations.
Thompson explained that the pontiff was chosen based on the mission of the church at a given period and the individual who best fits into that assignment.
“The process is usually done under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,” he said.
Delivering the homily, Thompson emphasised that obedience to the teachings of the Holy Spirit “helps individuals avoid errors and remain steadfast, even in the midst of life’s challenges.”
He lamented the poor outcomes of many human-led projects and urged people to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, whom he described as an advocate for more effective and righteous decision-making.
“Even if the Church is without a Pope for a time, it will not lose direction, because the Pope is merely the Vicar of Christ, while the true leader is the Holy Spirit.
“The College of Cardinals, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, elects a Pope who aligns with the Church’s needs at a particular time.
“The process is typically free of rancour because it is not influenced by personal or political interests,” he said.
