Blessed John Paul II's "Accepto"

In his biography of Blessed John Paul II, Witness to Hope, George Weigel recounts the moment when Cardinal Karol Wojtyła was elected Pope:

…the cardinals, who had been keeping their own tallies, were formally told what they already knew—Cardinal Karol Wojtyła had received the votes necessary to be elected pope. At a certain point in the tally, Wojtyła had put his head in his hands…to be elected Pope meant ‘a clear cut off from one’s previous life, with no possible return.’

…When Cardinal Jean Villot, who had told the cardinals in his sermon pro elegendo Pontifice that they ‘must elect a bridegroom of the Church,” stood in front of Wojtyła’s desk and asked, “Acceptanse electionem?” there was no hesitation. Karol Wojtyła knew the seriousness of the times and the weight of responsibility that was being laid upon him, but he saw in his brothers’ votes the will of God. And so, ‘In the obedience of faith before Christ my Lord, abandoning myself to the Mother of Christ and the Church, and conscious of the great difficulties, accepto’ (254).

This was a challenging moment for Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, because he knew that the Chair of St. Peter would take him away from his beloved Poland. Still, he accepted the decision of his fellow cardinals with great courage and became the next bridegroom of the Church.

As the Conclave proceeds, let us remember to pray for our next Pope. May the Holy Spirit be with him now, to comfort and guide him.