On the Sunday before the start of the conclave, many cardinals—including those eligible to vote—visited their titular churches in Rome. They celebrated Mass and met with the faithful. Upon being elevated to the College of Cardinals, each cardinal is assigned a titular church in the Eternal City.
News of the cardinals’ visits drew large crowds to parishes across Rome. One such gathering took place at the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, celebrated Mass. Speaking about the qualities he hopes to see in the next pope, Cardinal Dolan said, “Let’s hope he’s someone who always wears a smile—someone marked by humility and simplicity.”
“I think we’re fortunate,” he continued, “because we might be blessed with a pope who brings together the best of the last three pontiffs: the compassion of Francis, the intellectual depth of Benedict XVI, and the courage of John Paul II, who constantly called us to follow Christ. If we can unite those remarkable traits, it would be a true blessing.”
Crowds also packed the Church of the Immaculate Mother of God of Lourdes in Rome’s Boccea district, where Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo of Ajaccio, Corsica—considered one of the papabili, or leading candidates for the papacy—presided over Mass. In his homily, he said, “Jesus doesn’t ask if you’re strong, if you have a marketing strategy, or if you speak many languages. He asks you to listen to Him.”
Addressing children preparing for their First Communion, he added, “Pray for the cardinals—children’s prayers are precious.” The parish priest encouraged the youngsters with a smile: “Take a selfie with our cardinal—you never know, he might be the next pope!”
Meanwhile, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, arrived by metro at the Church of Santa Maria della Grazie. In the Monti district, hundreds of faithful gathered to see another papal contender: Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, the Archbishop of Marseille.