Card Gracias carries affection of millions of Indians to the Pope
February 28, 2013: Just before he left for the conclave, Cardinal Gracias said "As
I prepare to leave for Rome, emotions of gratitude, love and affection fill my heart
for our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. Hopefully, I will be present for the last public
appearance of His Holiness. My imminent thoughts are for Pope Benedict XVI whose deep
knowledge of the mystery, humility, life of prayer, deep appreciation of beauty in
the Church and in the world marked his significant but short pontificate. I also carry
with me the gratitude, love and prayers of India's 18 million Catholics for our Beloved
Holy Father."
It is very humbling to be at the conclave. I have been spending
many hours in personal prayer and meditation, asking for God's most Holy Spirit to
instruct my heart to be an instrument of the Lord's grace and providence to fulfil
faithfully this service, entrusted upon me as a cardinal, and upon the College of
Cardinals, to elect the next Pope after discerning together the signs of the times
for the Church and the world.
In a very special way, I have been interceding
with St Francis Xavier and the Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata-both loved by hundreds
of millions and whose mortal remains are in our beloved country-and with the Blessed
John Paul II, whom I knew personally.
I have written to all the churches in
India, asking them to have a special Mass during the days of the conclave. I asked
all convents, monasteries and religious houses of contemplative life to pray especially
for the election of the next pope.
Peter is the rock. Peter is vital to the
Church. Our Lord entrusted the keys to Peter. Peter is Jesus' gift to the Church,
a teacher who guards the faith, a sign of unity that confirms the brothers in faith.
Continuity
in the teachings of Vatican II will be the main thrust of the new pontiff, just as
it was for Pope Benedict XVI who clearly stood in continuity with his predecessors.
Both
the New Evangelisation and the Year of Faith are gifts to the Church that clearly
show Pope Benedict XVI's convictions about the need for renewal in the Church. But
they are also in continuity with the Second Vatican Council to be carried through
to the next pontificate. These are treasures for the Church universal.
It is
fundamental that we are completely open to the Spirit. It is vital, essential and
meaningful that there should be no distractions during the days of the conclave, that
as one heart and mind, we serve the Church to elect the new pope.
Our Lord's
assurance, that "I am with you always", dismisses any concern that might arise. In
faith, I know that the Holy Spirit is ever-present to guide the Church. We have always
had popes according to the need of the times to guide the Church through the Grace
of the Holy Spirit.
Finally and more importantly, I recall and I am strengthened
by the Holy Father's own words during the Mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff:
'Let us ask our Lord insistently tha the will again give us a pastor according to
his heart, a pastor who will lead us to the knowledge of Christ, to his love, to true
joy."