A Quebec cardinal says the new leader of the Catholic Church will be chosen based on his spirituality, not through lobbying.
Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte made the comments Tuesday ahead of a trip to Rome where he will be part of the conclave that will elect a new pope after Pope Benedict XVI鈥檚 retirement.
鈥淏efore the opening (of the conclave), the cardinals have some meetings together, not to organize the election of so and so,鈥� he told reporters during a press conference in Montreal. 鈥淚t's very important that you know that someone who will fight to win the job will be excommunicated.鈥�
Turcotte said Canadian Cardinal of the Catholic Church Marc Ouellet -- considered to be among the front-runners to succeed Benedict -- will be an important figure during the upcoming conclave.
鈥淥uellet is a very important one because he is very well-known around the world,鈥� Turcotte said. 鈥淗e was involved in the nomination of almost all the bishops in the world.
鈥淏ut we don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going to happen,鈥� Turcotte added, explaining that there are a number of cardinals who can replace Benedict.
鈥淭he pope is not a prime minister or a union leader. He鈥檚 a spiritual man,鈥� Turcotte said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very important that he has very good faith and receives the Holy Spirit in his governing of the Church.鈥�
Turcotte and Ouellet will be joined by Archbishop of Toronto Thomas Collins as Canada鈥檚 three representatives who will convene in the Vatican鈥檚 Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope.
The first conclave meeting isn't expected to take place until Monday, a Vatican spokesperson said today, since the official convocation to cardinals to come to Rome will only go out on Friday.
In all, 115 cardinals under the age of 80 are expected for the conclave to vote to elect the next pope.
Future title, final appearance
On Tuesday the Vatican announced that, after his resignation, Pope Benedict XVI will be known as either "Your Holiness Benedict XVI" or "emeritus pope".
It was also revealed that Benedict will continue to wear a white cassock.
The pope's title and what he would wear have been major questions ever since Benedict announced his retirement, making him the first pontiff to do so in 600 years.
It was believed that after stepping down, Benedict would return to wearing the traditional black garb of a cleric and use the title 鈥渆meritus bishop of Rome鈥�, as to not create confusion with the future pope.
Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi said Benedict decided on his name in consultation with others.
While he will no longer wear his trademark red shoes, Lombardi said Benedict has taken a liking to a pair of hand-crafted brown loafers made for him by artisans in Leon, Mexico, which were presented to him during his 2012 visit.
With files from The Associated Press
