HONG KONG (SE): As the universal Church prepares for the conclave beginning on May 7, the Diocese of Hong Kong joins Catholics around the world in prayerful anticipation. The passing of Pope Francis has left a spiritual and emotional void for many, not only here in Asia but globally. His unwavering dedication to the poor, the marginalised, and the global peripheries touched millions—especially in places often overlooked, like Hong Kong and mainland China.
It is natural for the faithful to feel a sense of uncertainty at this pivotal moment. Who will follow in the footsteps of Francis, the “People’s Pope”? Will the next pontiff continue his legacy of compassion, dialogue, and reform?
Father James Martin, SJ., writing from Rome for America Magazine, encourages Catholics not to be afraid. In his column, “Don’t be afraid of the conclave—or the next pope,” published on April 28, Father Martin acknowledges the feelings of grief and anxiety many are experiencing. “Some people have even told me that they are afraid,” he writes. “To which I say: Fear not!”
While the conclave is shrouded in mystery, it is not without divine guidance. Father Martin reminds us that although the Holy Spirit does not necessarily “dictate” the outcome of the papal election, as Pope Benedict XVI once remarked, “the Spirit’s role should be understood in a much more elastic sense… probably the only assurance [the Spirit] offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined.”
This is a call to trust—not in any particular candidate, but in the enduring promise of Christ to his Church. “Not even the gates of hell will ruin the Church,” Father Martin affirms. “If that’s the case, then neither will whoever one perceives as a ‘bad pope’.”
This moment is not just a political event within the Church; it is a spiritual pilgrimage. As Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J. prepares to enter the Sistine Chapel and cast his vote, we in Hong Kong should support him with our fervent prayers. He goes not only as our bishop but as a servant of the Holy Spirit, listening with his brother cardinals for the whisper of divine will.
Father Martin beautifully captures the grace in transition: “Whoever it is, I look forward to listening to him, trying to understand him and journeying with him on the Barque of Peter.” And for those still mourning Pope Francis, he offers a comforting truth: “Whatever happens in the church, it will always be true that we had Francis. Jorge Mario Bergoglio showed us… what it meant to be a Christian… Nothing that happens can ever change that.”
As we await the white smoke, may we, like Father Martin, place our hope not in human certainty but in the God of surprises. Or in the words of Jesuit theologian Daniel Huang sj, “Teach me to continue to trust in the God of surprises.”
