Seoul (AsiaNews) Seoul's Catholic community is offering an evening rosary and mass for the 115 cardinals who must choose the new Pontiff, this according to Mgr Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, the Archbishop of the South Korean capital.
The pledge came in the prelate's homily during a mass celebrated in Myongdong Cathedral at the same time as the pro eligendo pontifice mass was taking place in St. Peter's.
The Archbishop called on the faithful to pray to God and the Holy Spirit to enlighten the cardinals now gathered in conclave so that they can choose the worthier among them to be Saint Peter's successor.
Archbishop Cheong Jin-suk stressed that "it is not the cardinals who choose the Pope but God who chooses His Vicar through these cardinals. That is why we pray to Him for this papal election and ask Him to send us a Pope whom He wants, the one who can lead the Universal Church according to His will".
For this reason, he invited the faithful of his archdiocese to join him in prayer in Myongdong Cathedral and participate in the rosary and mass at 5:30 and 6 pm respectively.
He also asked those who cannot come to be united by intention from where they are.
"I do believe that God will give us a great pope, a great new Vicar of Jesus Christ who will lead the Church and whom the world needs nowadays," the Archbishop added.
Pyongwha Broadcasting (PBC), a local Catholic TV, and other South Korean networks like KBS, YTN, SBS and MBC have shown interest in the election of John Paul II's successor.
The coverage also included reports on the more electable candidates, among them Ratzinger, Sodano, Martini and Arinze. (TK)