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Cardinal Nichols: I never dreamt I would be choosing the Pope Choosing a new Pope: 'Conclave is quite intimidating'
(about 3 hours later)
Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols turns 80 in November - the cut-off age for cardinals to be able to vote for a new Pope Cardinal Nichols turns 80 in November - the cut-off age for cardinals to be able to vote for a new Pope
The leader of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales has said he never thought he would have the "intimidating" duty of voting for Pope Francis's successor. The leader of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales has said he definitely will not be the next pontiff, but is looking forward to the "intimidating" duty of choosing Pope Francis's successor.
Cardinals can only vote until they turn 80, which is just a few months away for Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, who was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2014. Following Pope Francis's death, the next Pope will be chosen by the College of Cardinals, who will gather for a tradition known as the conclave.
Merseyside-born Cardinal Nichols exclusively told BBC North West he thought it was "going to pass me by [until] a couple of months ago when he was seriously ill". The archbishop said he remembered thinking to himself: "Oh Lord, this is going to come my way." Cardinal Vincent Nichols will vote with more than 100 others, but almost missed out, as he is only a few months off his 80th birthday, the age limit for voting rights.
He said he had "put it to the back of my mind" again until Pope Francis died, aged 88, on Monday. The Merseyside-born Archbishop of Westminster said he thought it would "pass me by" until he heard the Pope was seriously ill and thought: "Oh Lord, this is going to come my way."
Archbishop Nichols said Pope Francis was "always at peace" as pontiff
Cardinal Nichols, who leads six million Roman Catholics in England and Wales, said he "never thought I would [be voting] because [Pope Francis] didn't show many signs of slowing down" and appeared to be recovering from double pneumonia. The conclave, which traditionally starts after a two-week mourning period, sees the College of Cardinals gather in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to cast a series of votes to choose the next pope.
The 79-year-old archbishop, who was born in Crosby, said he had met Pope Francis several times during high-level meetings in Rome. Theoretically, any baptised man can be elected as pope, but a cardinal, all of whom are serving archbishops ordained by a pontiff, is usually picked.
He said he had two abiding special memories. There are currently 252 cardinals and while all can take part in the debate about who should be chosen, the voting age restriction means only the 135 who are under 80 can vote.
"One particularly has never left me," said the cardinal. "He said to me: 'From the moment of my election as Pope, my peace has never left me'. Cardinal Nichols, who leads six million Roman Catholics in England and Wales, exclusively told BBC North West he "never thought" he would be voting because Pope Francis "didn't show many signs of slowing down" and appeared to be recovering from double pneumonia.
However, he played down any suggestion of remaining in the Vatican as the next pope himself.
"I'm coming home," he said.
"You can be sure of that."
Cardinal Nichols led a Requiem Mass for Pope Francis at Westminster Cathedral
The 79-year-old archbishop, who was born in Crosby on the Merseyside coast, said he had met Pope Francis several times during high-level meetings in Rome, but had two abiding special memories.
"One particularly has never left me," he said.
"He said to me: 'From the moment of my election as Pope, my peace has never left me'.
"Despite the pressure of all he has to deal with, he has lived close to God.""Despite the pressure of all he has to deal with, he has lived close to God."
Cardinal Nichols also said he had fond memories of their last meeting two years ago.Cardinal Nichols also said he had fond memories of their last meeting two years ago.
He said an author had asked him to give a copy of their latest book to Pope Francis.He said an author had asked him to give a copy of their latest book to Pope Francis.
"I gave him the book and said the author was 'very keen that you might have this'. "I gave him the book and said the author was 'very keen that you might have this'," he said.
"He came back after lunch with a handwritten card and a copy of one of his own books for me to give as a return gift - that was quite astonishing." "He came back after lunch with a handwritten card and a copy of one of his own books for me to give as a return gift.
Archbishop Nichols said Pope Francis was "always at peace" as Pontiff "That was quite astonishing."
Less than two weeks after Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday, Archbishop Nichols and the 134 other cardinals from around the world who are eligible to vote for the 267th pontiff will gather at the Vatican. Following Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday, Cardinal Nichols will join his fellow cardinals to vote for the 267th pontiff, who will go on to lead the world's estimated 1.4 billion Catholics.
They will meet in the Sistine Chapel beneath Michelangelo's fresco The Last Judgement to choose the man who will lead the world's estimated 1.4 billion Catholics. He said the prospect was "quite intimidating frankly".
"It is quite intimidating frankly," he told BBC North West. He added that he believed the cardinals would their "best work once the doors of the conclave have been shut", as at that point, there would be "a peace and a prayerfulness between us".
"I know I have got to get myself together and be a little nuanced to all the political manoeuvring and Paddy Power's bets and all that and say 'Actually, this is a group of men trying to discern the will of God. "I know I have got to get myself together and be a little nuanced to all the political manoeuvring and Paddy Power's bets and all that and say 'actually, this is a group of men trying to discern the will of God," he said.
"That's the only thing that matters.""That's the only thing that matters."
Archbishop Nichols said he believed he and his fellow cardinals would "do our best work once the doors of the conclave have been shut and there will be a peace and a prayerfulness between us". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
When it was pointed out that the new Pope will not require a return ticket once the white smoke emerges, Archbishop Nichols was very quick to play down his own chances.
"I'm coming home," he said. "You can be sure of that!"
Cardinal Vincent Nichols says the responsibility of electing a new Pope is "quite intimidating"
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