THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS, CALL FOR CHURCH UNITY

VATICAN CITY — Cardinal  Angelo Sodano,  bringing men of God in unity in  the Mass on Tuesday preceding the conclave to elect the next pope, issued an appeal for unity in the Roman Catholic Church,  which has been damaged by Vatican corruption and clerical sexual abuse scandals.

In accordance with red capes trimmed in gold, and with white miters soaring from their heads, as dean of college Angelo Sodano has guided other cardinals filed into the cathedral, two by two. The procession passed the tomb of St. Peter and the body of Pope Pius X, leading finally to the famous Bernini altar that dominates the church. 

“St. Paul teaches that each of us must work to build up the unity of the church,” Cardinal Sodano said. “All of us are therefore called to cooperate with the pastors, in particular with the successor of Peter, to obtain that unity of the holy church.”

He also dwelled on the church’s charitable and evangelizing mission and prayed for the future pope to continue to promote peace and justice around the world. The cardinal, who for nearly 20 years has been one of the most influential figures in the Vatican and served John Paul II and Benedict XVI as secretary of state, made several mentions of those two popes. 

 

He referred to the “luminous pontificate” of the “beloved and venerated Pontiff Benedict XVI, to whom in this moment we renew our profound gratitude,” drawing long applause from the worshipers. A number of the cardinals, but not all, clapped their hands modestly. 

The cardinals have appeared divided over whether the next pope should be an outsider who would reform the Italian-dominated Curia, or Vatican bureaucracy; an internal choice who could bring change from within; or a galvanizing leader who can shore up the church in the face of growing secularism and inroads by Protestant evangelicals. 

The decision by Benedict to resign — he is the first pontiff to step down in nearly 600 years — has also caused differences in the cardinals’ ranks. 

 

Cardinal Sodano, a powerful Vatican cardinal who ran the Roman Curia under John Paul II, framed his homily by citing writings by the Apostle Paul, calling upon the church to "make every effort to keep the unity" and ensure it is "joined and held together by every supporting ligament."

"Each of us is therefore called to cooperate with the successor of Peter, the visible foundation of such an ecclesial unity," Cardinal Sodano said.

Before him, cardinals enrobed in crimson vestments sat in neat rows, occasionally breaking their silence to join the pews in applauding Benedict XVI who, though absent, was described by Cardinal Sodano as "beloved and venerable."