Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez, from El Salvador, said from Rome that the cardinals value the inheritance and the “great gift” that Pope Francis for the Catholic Church and humanity was.
Although he will not be able to participate as a voter in the next conclave that will begin on May 7 for having exceeded 80 years, Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez, an auxiliary bishop Emeritus of San Salvador, is these days in Rome, actively participating in the general congregations prior to the election of the new Pope.
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Born on September 3, 1942 in Society, a small town in El Salvador, the first Salvadoran and Auxiliary Bishop in being created Cardinal shared with ACI Press his reflection on the transcendental moment that the Catholic Church lives.
From the surroundings of the Vatican, he highlighted the “so great inheritance” that Pope Francis has left. “There is full awareness of that among the voters and among all of us. Whatever God that we can live up to what was the incredible gift of Pope Francis, for the world and the Church,” he said.
“All cardinals value that gift and want to continue along that path in the new stage that we will start next week,” he added.
Rosa Chávez was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of San Salvador by San Juan Pablo II in 1982 and developed her ministry with San Oscar Romero, who was a close collaborator, confidant and friend until he died martyr in 1980, while celebrating the Eucharist.
Faithful to the humble and close pastoral style that characterizes it, the purple Salvadoran stressed the transcendent dimension of the conclave: “The word conclave not only means ‘with a key’, it also means cenacle. There is the Holy Spirit acting,” he said.
He also expressed his hope that the cardinals are “open” to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, “so that it is God who decides who will be Francisco’s successor.”
In this context, he remarked that “the Church is guided by the Spirit, which inspires specific people to make God’s plan in today’s world and also in the Church today.”
Rosa Chávez was created Cardinal by Pope Francis in the town hall of June 28, 2017. After the Argentine Pope appointed him in the list of future cardinals, Rosa Chávez thought “it was a joke.” Shortly after receiving the news, he visited the tomb of Santo Romero, to whom he attributed his appointment.
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú
Graduated in journalism and advertising from the CEU San Pablo University of Madrid. Specialized in religious information in Spain since 2015. It has been a senior correspondent for ACI Press and Ewtn News at the Vatican for two years and is currently a correspondent for Europe based on Spain.