Valley Catholics pray for next pontiff ahead of historic papal conclave vote

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Anticipation is increasing up of May 7th, erstwhile the papal conclave processions are scheduled to begin.

"Everyone's conscionable waiting for Wednesday. Everyone's conscionable benignant of pins and needles," said Chandler Marquez, manager of communications with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno.

"I was talking to 1 sister successful Saint Peter's Square, and she was saying erstwhile the fume comes, literally, everyone from Rome goes consecutive to Saint Peter's and it's chaos," said Marquez.

Bishop Joseph Brennan and members of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno landed successful Rome connected Monday. Marquez spoke with Action News and described a consciousness of busyness arsenic the College of Cardinals prepares to ballot for the adjacent pope.

Closer to home, Valley Catholics stock opposing viewpoints surrounding the qualities they would similar to spot successful the adjacent pope - a figurehead who volition pb the 1.4 cardinal Catholics astir the world.

"First and foremost, since God is love, idiosyncratic that loves God and others," said Elma Espinoza of Mendota. "That's precise important due to the fact that if we had much love, that would beryllium a overmuch amended world, wouldn't it?"

Over the people of Pope Francis' 12-year papacy, helium was viewed arsenic a pontiff with much of a non-traditional attack to a wide scope of delicate issues.

"People said helium was much of a progressive pope, but helium was to the close of Donald Trump connected abortion, cheery marriage, transgenderism, and a clump of different things," said John Gerardi of Clovis. "Maybe that's a small overstated. I'm conscionable hopeful for a pope who volition beryllium truly vigorous successful proclaiming what the religion has ever perennially taught."

"Didn't Jesus say, 'All of you travel to maine for I volition springiness you bid and emotion and I volition springiness you serenity and each the things you need. You conscionable request to travel to me, and I volition springiness it to you.' How elemental is that," said Maria Lara of Fresno.

A devout Catholic who present leads Catechism classes successful Downtown Fresno, Lara believes each are welcome.

She said she hopes the adjacent pope volition locomotion successful the aforesaid footsteps arsenic Pope Francis erstwhile it comes to acceptance.

In this clip of transition, the conclave has 1 mission.

"We determination rapidly from mourning Pope Francis' passing to electing a caller pope," said Marquez.

"Sede vacante," the spot is empty, right? So we got to capable that."

"I deliberation this is the cleanable clip to prime the astir almighty vas for God and the Catholic belief," said Fely DeGuzman Jones of Fresno.

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