Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz said the reforms set in motion by Francis are now irreversible, regardless of who is chosen as the next head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Speaking at a press conference in Warsaw on Tuesday, Nycz said: "The processes initiated by Francis in the Church cannot be stopped."
He added that the choice of a new pope is always "a moment of extraordinary importance" and that "he history of the Church is measured by the history of each pontificate."
Nycz, who until recently served as the Archbishop of Warsaw, said that Pope Francis' passing during Easter lent it "a deeply symbolic and beautiful" significance.
Pope Francis, pictured on Easter Sunday. Photo: EPA/ANGELO CARCONI
Conclave will last 'as long as needed'
Following the pope’s funeral, the cardinals will enter a conclave to elect his successor.
The gathering, including four Polish cardinals, will be held behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. It will last "as long as needed," Nycz said.
He told reporters that real deliberations during the conclave differ significantly from speculation in the media.
"I believe deeply that the decision is made not by calculation, but through searching for the will of God," he said.
Reflecting on Francis' legacy, Nycz highlighted the pope's "outreach to society's margins," not just the economically poor but also those affected by secularization.
"The Holy Father spoke of the peripheries that the Church must go out to," Nycz said. He praised Francis for helping deepen the Church’s understanding of its universal nature.
"He showed Europe that the Church is not only on the Old Continent, but all over the world, and that it is the people of God, not just bishops and priests, but all the baptized," Nycz added.
He attributed this inclusive vision to Francis' experience in Latin America, particularly his work among the poor and migrants in the slums known as favelas.
He told the news conference that this background shaped the pope's belief that ordinary Christians should have a voice in the Church, which was reflected in some of his appointments – including of women to key roles – a move that was not universally welcomed.
'Francis was a remarkably courageous pope'
"Francis was a remarkably courageous pope," Nycz said, pointing to the pontiff’s letter defending Mexican immigrants, which drew criticism from US President Donald Trump.
"In an age of social and political correctness, when people change their minds about migration or stay silent, there is room to ask whether we as a Church are truly following the pope’s example, standing up for what the Gospel says without compromise," Nycz added.
He acknowledged that some of Francis' statements, particularly on the war in Ukraine, had sparked doubts.
Nycz concluded by reaffirming that the direction Francis gave the Church will outlive his pontificate. "These processes are underway and will move forward, regardless of who the next pope is," he said.
Nycz was appointed cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. He has served on several Vatican bodies, including those dealing with liturgy, clergy and culture.
To be elected pope, a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority of votes cast in the conclave.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP