Bishop Bacani: Pray for cardinals to elect the rightful pope

The Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will gather to elect the new pope, is seen Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (Vatican Media via AP)

MANILA, Philippines — As the Catholic Church’s history unfolds, a bishop on Wednesday called on the faithful to pray that cardinals participating in the conclave will elect the rightful pope.

Novaliches Bishop-emeritus Teodoro Bacani Jr. said that praying to the Holy Spirit will give the cardinals the wisdom to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church.

“My beloved brothers and sisters, Catholics, I ask you to pray to the Holy Spirit that the cardinals will choose based on their conscience the genuine leader of the Catholic Church,” Bacani, speaking in Filipino, said in a statement to Radyo Veritas.

READ: The 2025 Conclave: Electing a New Pope – Live Updates

The bishop also hoped the papal race would be as successful as the previous conclaves that elected the late Pope Francis, popularly known as the “People’s Pope.”

“And whoever they choose will be the rightful pope. By the grace of God, in the previous years, we had great popes, and I hope the same thing happens at this conclave, so let us pray for it,” Bacani added.c

The papal conclave is set to begin on Wednesday with the faithful waiting for white smoke to come from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signifying that the Catholic Church has a new leader.

A mass began at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican ahead of the actual election.

READ: Cardinals to begin solemn, secret voting ritual to elect new pope

After the mass, they will enter the Sistine Chapel as the Litany of Saints is chanted, followed by the singing of Veni Creator Spiritus to invoke guidance of the Holy Spirit.

According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Cardinals Luis Antonio Tagle, Pablo Virgilio David, and Jose Advincula are among the 133 cardinals eligible to participate in the Papal election.

This is the first time in Philippine history that three Filipino cardinals will participate in the much-anticipated conclave. /MR