Cardinals celebrate masses in Rome

Catholic world is united in prayer,” US cardinal Sean O’Malley, who is seen as a possible contender for the papacy, said in his homily.
“Let us pray that the Holy Spirit enable the Church to choose a new pope who will confirm us in our faith and make more visible the love of the Good Shepherd,” O’Malley told parishioners in Santa Maria della Vittoria church. O’Malley based his homily on the Biblical parable of the Prodigal Son, who runs away from home but is welcomed back with open arms by his father.
“People leave the Father, the Church, for many reasons – ignorance, a poor welcome, negative experiences, scandals, spiritual mediocrity,” he said, in apparent reference to a key challenge for the Church – rising secularism. Father Stefano Guernelli, rector of the ornate Baroque church in central Rome told O’Malley: “I hope this is the last time you come here as a cardinal and I hope that if you are elected pontiff this will be the first church that you visit.” — AFP.