At the papal conclave, one has been struck by the universality of the Catholic Church. Black, brown and white cardinals mingled peacefully, discreetly and joyfully to choose the modern successor to St Peter. Some 115 Cardinal electors, with the required majority ballot, picked the new Pope.
This was like a spiritual United Nations, with administrative institutions like the Roman Curia and financial ones like the Vatican Bank (Jesus spoke a lot about money and its good stewardship) along with missions, charities, schools and hospitals, leper asylums.
Representatives came from most countries, except notably China, Lutheran Scandinavia, Orthodox Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Muslim Turkey and Iran, Libya and Algeria. The Church includes 1.2 billion baptised Catholics, some nominal and some contenders and unbelievers, as in Christ’s time.
But with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the newly elected leader will be holy and wise, spreading goodness and joy.