Does the Holy Spirit choose the Pope? Next week the conclave… in the Cave the Cardinals will ask the Holy Spirit who is going to be the next pope. Now, we know that age cardinals have to pray, ask the Holy Spirit to guide them.
In the first council (Act 15) Peter, James Paul and the other apostles were praying discussing God Will about eating ‘Food sacrificed to idols’ ….Peter and James conclude ‘ For it seems good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements.’ There was real discernment will of Holy Spirit and the Apostles.
The Holy Spirit works in our prayer and discernment.
Jesus choose His Apostles. His very act of choosing them makes the apostles. So we can say Jesus made His Apostles in choosing them. Jesus says ‘I know who I have chosen.’
When Judas fell away.. The Apostles (Act 1 12-26) casts lots to choose who would replace Judas. ‘And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas who was surnamed Justus and Mathhias. And they prayed and said ‘ Lord you know the hearts of all men, show us which one o these two you have chosen…. and they cast lots for them and the lots fell on Mathias and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.’
The Church is Jesus Bride. It is His Church. Jesus said to Peter, you are rock and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against you.’ Jesus said to Peter ‘ Satan wishes to shift you like wheat but I have prayed for you (For you singular.)
The Church is not a political party. The Church is the Bride of Christ.
When a man becomes a priest and the Church ordains him. The Church action confirm that ‘Yes’ God called this man to be a priest. How mush more the Pope. Because of the promise of Christ the Pope as the visible head of the Church, cannot formally fall into heresy.
Does the Holy Spirit. pick the Pope, in my mind ‘Yes.’ in that the Holy Spirit guides the Church…and in the end we have Christ Promise to protect the Church from heresy.. in her formal teaching. Did the Holy Spirit pick Mathias? Did the apostles know who the Holy Spirit wanted before they cast lots and prayed, no.
Did the Holy Spirit pick Mathias yes. As Jesus picked Peter, (ie also Judas) The Holy Spirit also choose Linus, Cletus and Clement… John Paul II, Pope Benedict, Pope Francis.. and….
The cardinals can say . when the lots fall on one of the cardinals, even any baptized male. that yes . ‘It seems good to the Holy Spirit and Us.’
The Church is Apostolic, which means as the preface says for Apostles ‘ that even know the apostles govern and guide the Church from Heaven.’
The Church is Christ Church, and He guides it now and always.
So does the Holy Spirit pick the Pope.. the answer for me is ‘Yes.’
Father, is there a way to find out when you will have a healing Mass? Email maybe?