Episode 3036: Choosing Peter's Successor: The Sacred Duty of a Papal Conclave - Morning Episode

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I must say the death of this Pope is much different. No mourning in St Peters square, no vigils as far as I could tell you wouldn’t know we lost a Pope. Its as if the desantification efforts of Pope Francis came home to roost. You don’t want tradition during your palpacy then you wont have at the end. A real nothing burger. My opinion was his palpacy was such a disaster that it goes out like it came in. Who know who he was coming in and who knows what he was trying to accomplish for Holy Mother Church when he was Pope other than reduce it to an option of faith. Sorry folks I was nether a fan of this late Pope nor did I understand why he wanted to turn off the lights in the Mystical Body of Christ. But now that over and so lets call on the Holy Ghost to send us a real Pope who will rebuild the church. Lets pray that God send the floods to wash away all that the roman curia has become and return it to the living waters of the church. Time to take out the garbage.
Choosing Peter's Successor: The Sacred Duty of a Papal Conclave"
Today we dive deep into the heart of the Catholic faith from the lens of Sacred Tradition.
Today, we're exploring a topic that touches the very soul of the Church the papal conclave, the solemn process through which the successor of St. Peter is chosen. How is a conclave planned and carried out? How has this sacred process changed in recent times under Pope Francis? And why is a prayerful conclave essential in contrast to a political one?
We’ll also reflect on the Scripture readings for Easter Tuesday, April 22, 2025, according to the 1962 Missal, and conclude with a prayer for Holy Mother Church.

The Traditional Conclave: A Sacred Task
The word conclave comes from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key” indicating the locked enclosure in which the cardinals are sequestered until a new pope is chosen. This practice was formalized in the 1274 Second Council of Lyon, after political delays had nearly paralyzed the papal succession. The intention was always to avoid outside influence and allow the Holy Ghost to guide the decision.
In the traditional structure, cardinals under the age of 80 gather in the Sistine Chapel. The day is preceded by days of prayer and reflection. Masses are offered, litanies are chanted, and the faithful around the world are called to intercede.
Once inside the conclave, the cardinals take an oath of secrecy. Voting takes place up to four times a day two in the morning and two in the afternoon. A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope. After each vote, ballots are burned. If no pope is elected, black smoke rises from the chimney. When the Holy Ghost has moved hearts to agreement, white smoke announces Habemus Papam we have a pope!

Modern Modifications and Concerns
However, the process has undergone changes some subtle, others profound.
Pope Francis, in 2022, modified the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis first issued by Pope John Paul II to increase flexibility in how cardinals prepare for the conclave. Some critics note that this could allow more pre-conclave discussions that risk politicizing the process.
Additionally, Pope Francis has appointed a significant number of cardinals from parts of the world traditionally underrepresented in the Curia. While diversity is not inherently problematic, many of these new electors lack strong formation in the traditional faith and moral theology, and may be more susceptible to worldly ideologies and pastoral relativism.
Some cardinals have also voiced concerns over the shift in tone during recent consistories from sacred reflection to strategic networking. This is a grave danger. The papal conclave must never resemble an election campaign.

The Danger of a Political Conclave
A conclave driven by ideology, ambition, or modernist agendas is not led by the Holy Ghost. As St. Robert Bellarmine warned, “It is the right of the faithful to receive from their shepherd not error, but truth.” If the shepherd is chosen for worldly reasons, the flock is left to wander.
St. Alphonsus Liguori called for intense prayer during conclaves, saying:
"The election of the Roman Pontiff is the hinge of the Church; the devil will use all his cunning to influence it but the prayers of the just can defeat him."
Epistle: Acts 13:26–33
"Men, brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fear God, to you the word of this salvation is sent. [...] And we declare unto you that the promise which was made to our fathers, this same God hath fulfilled to our children, raising up Jesus Christ."
Epistle: Acts 13:26–33 – “To You the Word of This Salvation Is Sent”
In this passage from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul is preaching in the synagogue at Antioch, boldly proclaiming the fulfillment of God’s promise made to the patriarchs: that salvation through Jesus Christ has arrived. He speaks first to the children of Abraham and then broadens the message to “whosoever among you fear God.” The message is clear—salvation is not confined by ancestry, but is rooted in faithful reception of the Word of God.
In the context of the papal conclave, this proclamation is vital. The conclave is not simply a political gathering or an internal appointment it is a profound moment of ecclesial discernment, rooted in the apostolic mission. The successors of the Apostles, the bishops, are gathered under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to elect a successor to St. Peter who will continue to preach Christ crucified and risen, as St. Paul does here.
Paul reminds us that God fulfills His promises He is a God of continuity. The Church, as the mystical Body of Christ, is also called to continuity in doctrine, in holiness, in fidelity. As such, the next Pope must be one who guards this sacred continuity, ensuring that the Church does not swerve into novelty or modernism, but remains firm in the deposit of faith handed down from the Apostles.
“And we declare unto you that the promise which was made to our fathers, this same God hath fulfilled to our children, raising up Jesus Christ.”
— Acts 13:32–33
Here lies the heart of the papal office: to proclaim and protect the truth that Jesus Christ is risen, that the promise of salvation is fulfilled, and that the Church exists to spread this saving truth until the end of time.
Gospel: Luke 24:36–47
"Peace be to you; it is I, fear not." But they being troubled and frightened, supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them: "Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? [...] Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead the third day."
These readings are filled with divine assurance and apostolic proclamation. In the context of a papal conclave, they remind us that Christ is ever-present, even when the Church faces fear and uncertainty.
Gospel: Luke 24:36–47 – “Peace Be to You; It Is I, Fear Not”
This Gospel takes place on the very evening of the Resurrection. The disciples are locked in a room, consumed by fear, confusion, and doubt paralyzed by the trauma of the Crucifixion and unsure of the Resurrection reports they have heard.
Jesus enters into their fear and speaks His first word: “Peace be to you.” Not just an absence of conflict, but a deep, abiding shalom a restoration of order, purpose, and divine presence.
This Gospel speaks directly to the spiritual climate often surrounding a papal conclave: the Church may be experiencing turmoil, confusion, or scandal. The world waits with bated breath. Many faithful are anxious about the direction the Church will take. But into this fear, Christ still speaks: “Peace be to you.”
Then, Christ shows them His wounds. He does not dismiss their fears; rather, He grounds His peace in the reality of the Cross. The new pope must be a man who bears the wounds of Christ who understands suffering, who is rooted in penance, who preaches not comfort but the Paschal Mystery.

He must echo Christ's words:
“Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead the third day.”
— Luke 24:46
Christ then opens their minds to the Scriptures. Likewise, the Pope must interpret the times in light of eternal truths, not in light of popular opinion. He must preach conversion, repentance, and the forgiveness of sins (v. 47) not moral relativism or a diluted Gospel
Theological Link: Apostolic Continuity and Petrine Responsibility
Both readings point to a Church that is founded on the truth of the Resurrection and charged with proclaiming it to all nations. The papacy is not a figurehead of worldly influence, but a servant of the Word, a guardian of Tradition, and a visible sign of unity for the Church Militant.
In choosing a pope, the cardinals are not merely electing an administrator they are recognizing a man whom Divine Providence may have chosen to stand in the shoes of the Fisherman. He must be a man of faith and fear of God, like those to whom St. Paul preached, and he must be a man who hears Christ's greeting “Peace be to you” and then responds by leading the Church with courage.
This is no time for ambiguity. The world is starving for truth, clarity, and supernatural conviction. The next Pope must be one who declares the risen Christ with authority, not in his own name, but as the vicar of Christ on earth.
Concluding Reflection and Prayer
Dear listener, let us never forget that the next pope holds the keys once entrusted to St. Peter by Our Lord Himself. The Chair of Peter is not a throne of power, but a seat of sacrifice, service, and truth.
Let us pray not for the pope we desire but the pope God desires.
Let us conclude with a traditional prayer for the election of a Sovereign Pontiff:
Concluding Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ, Supreme Pastor of the Church, who, before ascending into Heaven, didst command Thy apostles to go and teach all nations, and didst promise to remain with them forever:
Look down in pity upon Thy Church in her need.
Send her, O Lord, a shepherd after Thy own Heart: strong in faith, holy in conduct, wise in governance, and fearless in defending the truth.
May he confirm the brethren, restore reverence in worship, defend the sacred tradition, and lead souls to eternal life.
We ask this through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Peter the Apostle, and all the saints.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Thank you for joining us. Until next time, remain steadfast in the faith, anchored in tradition, and always close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.