As the Conclave unfolds, remember that no matter the outcome, Christ remains on His throne.
This week, as the cardinals of the Church gather in Rome to elect a new pope, the eyes of the world turn once again to the Vatican. For many faithful Catholics, this is not a moment of joy or confidence – but of sorrow, confusion, and fear. The scandals of recent years have shaken trust in the shepherds of the Church. The legacy of the last pontificate has left deep wounds.
The vast majority of the cardinal electors were appointed by Pope Francis, and while we must pray for every one of them, it is no secret that many have expressed or defended ideologies and practices contrary to the perennial Magisterium of the Church. Scandals – both doctrinal and moral – have wounded the Body of Christ, and the silence or complicity of shepherds has led many to lose confidence in the human element of the Church.
This is a deep trial for the faithful. The temptation arises to despair, to detach from the visible Church, or even to treat the Church as if it were merely a political institution, where power struggles take the place of spiritual discernment.
However, as St. Francis de Sales wrote, “The Church is an immortal society: she may be storm-tossed, but she cannot sink” (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 2).
Therefore, in times like this, we see clearly that God permits trials in the Church – not to abandon her, but to purify her.
However, many of the faithful are asking, “How can I hold on to hope in a Church that seems to be crowned with thorns?”
Today’s episode is not about predictions. It’s not about politics. It is about Christ. And it is about His Passion – a Passion that is not only past tense, but ongoing in His Mystical Body, the Church.
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