Cardinal Théodore Adrien Sarr: “The election of the Pope proceeds from divine inspiration”
Cardinal Théodore Adrien Sarr: “The election of the Pope proceeds from divine inspiration”
Cardinal Théodore Adrien Sarr expressed his “great joy” on Friday at the election of the new Pope Leo XIV, saying it was a wish granted by God, inspiring the cardinals to choose the pastor of the world’s one and a half billion Christians.
“We truly felt a sense of great joy shared with all Catholic brothers and sisters around the world, all Christian brothers and sisters, and beyond, with people of good will, because God heard us and gave the Church a pastor through the cardinals,” he said in an interview with APS, at his Dakar residence called “Nazareth.”
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On Thursday, two-thirds of the 133 cardinal electors gathered in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican chose American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, born in Chicago, Illinois, to lead the destiny of the Roman Christian Church.
According to the Archbishop Emeritus of Dakar, who participated in the conclave that consecrated the late Francis as Pope in 2013, the election of the 267th Holy Father stems from divine inspiration.
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“It is truly God who passes through the cardinals to give the Church a pastor, just as Jesus Christ himself chose the apostles, and the apostles other men to exercise the powers and perpetuate the missions they received,” Cardinal Sarr maintained.
He gave thanks to God for this election, which was quickly concluded after just one day of conclave, before inviting the Christian faithful to “welcome” and “accept” the new sovereign pontiff “as he is, and to be truly ready to receive his messages, his directions, his proposals.”
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The cleric also welcomed the name chosen by the new pope, Leo XIV, in homage to Popes Leo the Great, who was Bishop of Rome from 440 to 461, and Leo XIII (1810-1903), considered the inspiration behind the social doctrine of the Church.
“Leo the Great, who was pope during antiquity, fought the barbarians who wanted to invade Rome. Pope Leo XII, whom I love very much, was also very attentive not only to his mission as head of the Church, but also to social issues, notably defending the rights of peasants and workers,” recalled Cardinal Théodore Adrien Sarr.
The new Vicar of Christ, Leo XIV, succeeded Pope Francis on Thursday, who died on April 21 at the age of 88.
