Polish Cardinal Grzegorz Ry\u015b is among the youngest cardinals that participated in the last conclave.<\/p>\n
In an exclusive interview with EWTN, conducted inside the Archbishop\u2019s Palace in Krak\u00f3w, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Krak\u00f3w reflects on why the election of the new pope proceeded so quickly, whether Robert Prevost was considered a leading candidate from the outset, and what kind of superior he was before his election to the papacy.<\/p>\n
As a longtime member of the Dicastery for Bishops, Cardinal Ry\u015b offers us insights that few others can provide.<\/p>\n
Exclusive with one of the Cardinal Electors<\/p>\n
Your Eminence, it\u2019s been a year since the conclave in which you participated for the first time. Why was that conclave so fast, so swift\u2014why did you decide so quickly?<\/p>\n
I suppose that\u2019s not a question for me\u2014you\u2019d have to ask the Holy Spirit. Well, these questions aren\u2019t simple, because in the end it\u2019s not entirely clear what is and isn\u2019t covered by secrecy. But I think I can say this much: nothing indicated it would go that way.<\/p>\n
And certainly not what we call the pre-conclave\u2014it was a time of rather firm discussions among the cardinals, not an easy time, with various opinions being expressed. I wouldn\u2019t say extreme, but certainly strongly contrasting. And the fact that the conclave itself went so quickly\u2014many of us, not just me, understood it in this way: that the Holy Spirit showed His hand, that something happened which we didn\u2019t expect of ourselves\u2014that we would reach such unity in voting so quickly.<\/p>\n
I think few people realize that one of the key moments is the pre-conclave, the general congregations of cardinals. They are essential, and in this last conclave perhaps even more important than before, because the College of Cardinals was extremely diverse: 133 cardinals from over 70 countries\u2014a real Tower of Babel. So how do you reach agreement?<\/p>\n
Getting to know one another is indeed one of the goals of the pre-conclave, because with that many cardinals it\u2019s obvious that we don\u2019t know each other\u2014or only to a very limited extent. But the main goal is actually a bit different.\u201d<\/p>\n
The cardinals are aware that among them sits the future pope. Some even said so, beginning their speeches with \u201cHoly Father.\u201d At that point everyone would look around, slightly confused, but then came the explanation: we all know that Peter is here\u2014we just don\u2019t yet know who he is.<\/p>\n
And so it would be good if that \u201cPeter,\u201d who will be revealed after the election, already knows about the problems of the Church\u2014problems that are different in the Vatican, where Cardinal Prevost was one of the most important officials, or in Latin America, where he was a bishop. But there are also other regions\u2014Australia, Oceania, Asia. He probably knows Europe somewhat from traveling as the head of the Augustinians, but no one knows the whole reality of the Church\u2014there are no such people.<\/p>\n
So the pre-conclave exists mainly for this purpose.<\/p>\n
What was Cardinal Prevost like as Prefect in those moments when you had direct contact\u2014what was he like as a person?<\/p>\n
We worked together for three years. I was appointed to the Dicastery under his predecessor, so it was a very beautiful experience, starting from the very first meeting he attended\u2014but did not yet lead, because it was still led by Cardinal Ouellet. It was a non-procedural meeting, devoted to a fundamental reflection on the office of the bishop and on the ways bishops are appointed\u2014what might require some change, or at least some adjustment. It was an important session.<\/p>\n
Later, he proved to be a man of extraordinary diligence, with a great ability to listen. But it also works this way procedurally: the prefect is usually the one who speaks last at plenary meetings.<\/p>\n
So he had the opportunity to listen attentively to everyone at the table.<\/p>\n
Did you also have direct contact with him\u2014any specific tasks given to you, your Eminence?<\/p>\n
It is a highly international and intercontinental group. It\u2019s important that when dealing with matters that have a local character, there is someone you can approach as a starting point. For example, if someone comes from Central and Eastern Europe, it doesn\u2019t mean they know all the local Churches\u2014but at least it gives you a place to begin the conversation.<\/p>\n
In such concrete situations, it\u2019s important that the Prefect knows whom to turn to. <\/p>\n
This is the first pope, who’s phone number you have at hand, your Eminence, that\u2019s what I\u2019ve heard<\/p>\n
Of course, I use it very rarely. As they say in the highlander dialect: only when it\u2019s absolutely necessary.<\/p>\n
And when it\u2019s necessary, then you have to call\u2014call, not write.<\/p>\n
Yes, sometimes immediately, sometimes after two days, but he always answers.<\/p>\n