Cardinal Brady departs for conclave

Ireland’s Catholic primate Cardinal Sean Brady was given a rousing send-off from staff and students at the Irish College in Rome this morning as he departed for the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

It begins this afternoon. The only cardinal elector from these islands Cardinal Brady celebrated Mass at the Irish College for the election of a new pope with seminarains and staff there early this morning.

He sang the Breastplate of St Patrick and the Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit). Cardinal Brady prayed that the saints of Ireland would guide him in his voting this week. As he left the College staff and seminarians gathered at the entrance and clapped.

As with all cardinal electors Cardinal Brady celebrated Mass at his designated church in Rome, that of Saints Julitta and Quirico on Via Conti. In his homily, delivered in Italian, his only reference to the conclave was where he said “this week is special.....I thank you and all those at home in Ireland for the prayers you have already offered for the cardinal electors.”

He continued “I can truly say that we have experienced the closeness of the Lord and the closeness of God’s people around the world in all our meetings during these days.”

He said “I ask you to kindly continue your prayers for the help of the Holy Spirit at this historic mome nt for the church and for the world. Let us pray that the one whom God has chosen will be elected and that he will lead us with wisdom, courage and love in the ways of peace through the encounter in each other and in the church with the loving mercyof God.”