Will the Pole be the next pope? Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz: Theoretically maybe

The one who enters as a certain candidate comes out as a normal cardinal – said Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz about the election of a new Pope. The Polish participant in the conclave spoke about his “mystery”.

IN Vatican After the death of Pope Francis, a conclave will gather, which he will choose another Holy Father. According to unofficial reports, it will take place between 5 and 10 May. On Tuesday, the first general congregation of cardinals will take place who will decide on the next steps.

Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz was asked if the new pope would come from outside Europe. – I would not be surprised that the church would mature sooner or later – said Cardinal Nycz, a participant in the conclave on Radio Zet.

The former Warsaw metropolitan added: – Pope Francis gave a signal to us Europeans that not only with us there is a church, that it is in Africa, America, Asia, while Europe is an important place, because here is the bishop of Rome. The priest emphasized that “the Church is present everywhere.”

Asked if he thought for a moment, that he could become a new pope, Nycz commented: – Well, maybe let's kidding in this conversation serious in the morning, it makes no sense at the moment to divine who will be.

However, when asked whether a Pole will be another pope, the cardinal answered that “theoretically maybe”. – But I think that this story will probably not happen again, at least in the next few decades. It would be too much happiness at once – he assessed.

Cardinal Nycz revealed that he had not yet bought a ticket to Rome. – Yesterday I did not know when this funeral would be, but today I will celebrate the mass at 18, tomorrow we will celebrate the mass and I think that these are things that are important. I will go to the funeral and go to go for sure – says the cardinal.

Cardinal Nycz about “Mystery Conclave”

The guest of Radio Zet described the “Mystery Conclave”. – The great mystery is that 135 people, guided by their own conscience, through which the Holy Spirit speaks, wonders what the Pope the Holy Spirit wants in the Church and the belief that it will be, he is growing – he said.

– The one who enters as a certain candidate comes out as a normal cardinal. Hence, world and journalistic forecasts do not come true and thanks – added Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz.

Asked about cardinals who meet at the conclave, the Polish cardinal described: – In the sense of such a way to know their conditions, cultural contexts, biography – we don't know each other. He supplemented, however, that “if a man goes to another consistory, where he is appointed several dozen cardinals, we at least know and know which he is from.”

Meeting with the Pope and the missing newspaper

Cardinal Nycz pointed out that every meeting with Pope Francis is important and is remembered. Asked about which he will remember the most, the cardinal told about the meeting right after the conclave in 2013.

– We all went with the Pope to the House of Saint Marta, there was to be dinner and one of the Vatican gendarmes brought me the printed issue of “L'Osservatore Romano” – 1.5 hours after white smoke. I dared and went to the presidential table, where the new pope was sitting and asked him to sign. I once borrowed this “L'Osservatore Romano” and I don't know where it is – says Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz. Radio ZET guest describes that Franciszek shortened the distance.

“He reversed the vision of the Church, which was hierarchical and pyramidal”

– For me – as a bishop and Christian – the most important dimension of the pontificate is that the Pope decided that the Second Vatican Council is not yet fully realized and a lot must still be done – assessed Cardinal Nycz – he began with many matters, but above all from the concept of the Church of the People of God. He reversed the vision of the church from before the Council, which was hierarchical and pyramidal – he added.

The clergyman emphasized that Pope Francis “brought such an understanding of the people that we do not understand in Europe – the understanding of the people who were at the heart of South America, all this misery, but the relationship between the closeness in the Church, that the people reveal what is called the sense of faith that you need to listen to God's people.”