Thousands of Miles away at the Vatican the doors were closed to the Sistine Chapel. The Conclave of Catholic Cardinals began their deliberations to pick the next leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.
Father Joel Seipp is the priest serving St. Francis Xavier parish in Carbondale and St. Andrew Parish in Murphysboro. He's new to the process of selecting a new pope as he wasn't a priest 12 years ago for the selection of Pope Francis. He's been a priest for 5 years in the Diocese of Belleville. He says the conclave will look at the global impact of the church as they follow this process, "I think many times they look at where the church is today. Where was the church being led by the previous pope? Where is the Holy Spirit calling them in 2025?"
Father Seipp says he doesn't have a preference who the next pope is as long as the decisions is driven by the Holy Spirit, "I'm hoping to see someone that realizes the church is a world structure. But I don't have a favorite. I want who God wants."
When it comes to questions from his parishioners about what they can do...there's nothing new. It's what they're already expected to do every day, "I tell people, 'God's will is going to be done. We can worry all we want, it doesn't help. So let's pray.' We offer up Masses and petitions. Pray for those Cardinals."
Father Seipp looks forward to the new pope whoever he is, because he wants to see him continuing to build on the foundation set by previous popes and serve the world.
