NZ bishops assured Cardinal Dew of their prayers before conclave

In a May 6 message, the bishops wrote that, as they were carrying out their work responding to the needs of the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand, they were conscious of Cardinal Dew’s responsibilities as a member of the College of Cardinals.

“We are praying for you all to discern the signs of the times and elect a pope who has the faith, fortitude and attributes necessary to lead our Church and offer leadership for our world,” the bishops wrote.

The message stated that the Catholic community in New Zealand had taken up Cardinal Dew’s invitation to pray the Litany of the Saints for the specific intention of the conclave, which started on May 7.

The bishops said that they had been praying the litany each day during their meetings in Palmerston North, and they assured Cardinal Dew of their ongoing prayers during the conclave.

In an article in America magazine, Cardinal Dew expressed his gratitude to Catholics in New Zealand for their “very generous response” to his request to pray the Litany of the Saints.

Cardinal Dew wrote that, as he was looking towards the procession into the Sistine Chapel and praying to the saints as this happened, he believed that it is an “amazing thought and blessing that we can ask all those men and women from the past, people we have known, members of our families, popes, well-known saints and many others who are now with God, to pray for us and this daunting but privileged task that is ahead of us”.

“To be part of a group discerning who the right person is to lead the Church in the world today is something I never thought I would be part of,” Cardinal Dew wrote. “But I also know that I have the prayers of many, many people behind me.”

Cardinal Dew added that “it is natural that any of us would be apprehensive, and perhaps even scared, because of the enormous task before us. This, though, is the work of God; the Holy Spirit will guide and direct us”.

FULL STORY

NZ Bishops send message of fraternal support to Cardinal Dew (NZCBC/Facebook)

Cardinal Dew on feelings before the conclave and praying (America Magazine)

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