Venezuelan Cardinal: Conclave may be convened before March 10

Venezuelan Cardinal Jorge Urosa Sabino on Tuesday described his impending participation in the election of the new Pope of the Catholic Church as a "great commitment, responsibility, and honour."

The Caracas Archbishop stressed that the Conclave has not been convened yet. He added that cardinals' preliminary meetings are likely to begin on March 1. Therefore, the Conclave "is likely" to be held before March 10.

When asked about the possibility that a Latin America Cardinal is chosen to become the next Pope, the Caracas Archbishop said that there are many possibilities. "No one is vetoed for this position. We are 19 Latin American Cardinals; any person from these lands may be chosen."

He disadvised any speculations about who might become the next Pope. He underscored that the new Pope would have to tackle many religious challenges that modern societies are facing, namely secularization, religious intolerance, particularly in Europe and North America, moral relativism, the rise of drug trafficking, and the handling of sex matters, as well as other issues "harming dignity and the comprehensive well-being of humankind."

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Translated by Jhean Cabrera