May 7, 2025

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

Each time our Catholic Church elects a new pope, I see it as another new beginning. As I am awaiting the beginning of this conclave, I begin to wonder, will this new Holy Father have any surprises for us. I remember many surprises when I think of Pope Francis. That first evening when he was introduced to that large crowd in St. Peter’s Square and to the rest of us, I was surprised when he began chatting with us. I remember that he first asked us all to offer a prayer for him. St. Peter’s became very silent – a prayerful silence. I know that I, watching this at home, offered a prayer for him at that time.

I know that I am often surprised by the name that a new pope chooses for to be his as pope. I have discovered that does tell us about the new pope. Pope Francis surprised me when he chose to be called Francis. I know that he was placing his papacy under the patronage of St. Francis of Assisi. I realized that this meant a dedication to a simple life, a caring spirit for the poor and the needy, a concern for the environment – all like St. Francis. Pope Francis certainly carried this out so well.

I find it interesting that this election of our new pope is happening during the Easter liturgical season. Have you noticed that during the Easter Season, the first reading at Mass each day is from the Acts of the Apostles. The Acts of the Apostles was written by the same St. Luke, who wrote one of the Gospels. This Book of the Acts of the Apostles describes the beginning of the first Christian Community. After the Pentecost, the apostles began to form our new Church, bringing the message of Jesus to all would listen. They challenged those first Christians to live a new life – a life of love, accepting the dedication to follow the Lord Jesus.

As you read the Acts of the Apostles, and you should read it now during these weeks of the Easter Season, you will notice how challenging and even difficult it was for the Apostles to form a unified Church. I truly realized that only through the power of the Holy Spirit could those early disciples bring hope and unity to the people that they might boldly form the Catholic Church. The miracle is that our Catholic Church continues strong and alive until today – as we now await a new conclave.

Let me mention here another time of newness for me, personally: when I was a young priest. I want you to understand how profoundly my priesthood was transformed for the better by the Second Vatican Council. I continue to pray in gratitude to Pope John XXIII; he was the pope who surprised us all when he brought together all the bishops of our Church from all over the world. This Council brought a new start for me and for my Church. I was truly formed anew by that Council. That Council prepared me to become a proper pastor and helped me to realize that my task as a priest and pastor was first and foremost to bring Jesus and his message to my world. My priesthood became all about my union with Jesus. This was my challenge as a disciple of the Lord Jesus. I developed a new vision through this Council.

So, now we must pray for these cardinal electors. They have a task from us all to choose a good, wise, and holy new pope. This begins a new time for our Catholic Church. We need a new Holy Father that will be the best for our time. May the Holy Spirit guide our Catholic Church as we welcome our new Holy Father.