Message from Fr. Stefan - May 2, 2025

Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,

          As we continue to mourn over the death of Pope Francis, we also look forward in hope to the election of the next Vicar of Christ, the next Pope. Beginning on Wednesday, May 7 , the College of Cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel to vote for the next Pope. The election of the Pope is not a popularity contest or even a question of who the best candidate is, the election of the Pope is a work of the Holy Spirit.

           For 2000 years, the Holy Spirit has guided the Church and continues to guide the Church today until the second coming of Christ. This we can trust and should trust the Holy Spirit during this historic moment. The election of the Pope does not happen often, and it is a time for the Church to come together in union to pray for the 135 Cardinal electors to be open to the Holy Spirit in electing the next Pope.

         I am certain, many of you have seen on the news, in social media, and talking amongst yourselves, about who the potential candidates for the next Pope will be. I am also certain many you have your preferences on what kind of Pope you would like to have. There is saying in Rome that goes, “The one who goes into the conclave a pope, comes out a cardinal.”

We and the media can have all the predictions and preferences and reasons for who should be elected the next Pope, but at the end of the day, the Pope we should want and pray for and the Pope who will be elected will be the one the Holy Spirit calls. This is why we need to pray as a unified Church. There are many different things in play and many different distractions that will happen between now and the election of the new Pope and we as a Church and as the faithful body of Christ are called to focus on one thing, doing the will of God.

I invite all of you throughout these next days to offer Masses, rosaries, divine mercy chaplets, and to fast for the Conclave and the Cardinal electors. They are in need of grace from the Holy Spirit and our prayers and sacrifices for them will ensure the Pope the Church needs and the Pope the Holy Spirit is calling will be elected.

In Christ,

 Fr. Stefan