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As the Roman Catholic Church prepares for the monumental task of selecting its next leader, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, has opened up about the solemn responsibility—and emotional weight—of choosing Pope Francis’s successor.
Although the Cardinal is adamant that he has no aspirations to ascend to the papacy himself, the 79-year-old Archbishop of Westminster acknowledges the gravity of the conclave that will soon decide the future of the Church’s 1.4 billion followers.
“I’m coming home,” Cardinal Nichols stated with quiet conviction. “You can be sure of that.”
A Sacred Duty Nearing the End of an Era
Cardinal Nichols turns 80 in November, just shy of the age cutoff to vote in the papal conclave. According to Church law, cardinals lose their voting rights once they reach that milestone. As one of the 135 cardinals under 80, Nichols will participate in what may be one of his final acts of influence in the global Church hierarchy.
Reflecting on the possibility of missing the opportunity altogether, Nichols confessed that for a long time, he never thought he would be among those casting a vote for the next pope.
“I thought it would pass me by,” he said. “Then I heard the Pope was seriously ill and thought: ‘Oh Lord, this is going to come my way.’”
A Glimpse into the Conclave: A Time of Prayer, Not Politics
The conclave—the ancient and secretive process by which a new pope is elected—will begin after a traditional mourning period, typically lasting around two weeks following the funeral of the current pope. During that time, cardinals from across the world will gather in the Sistine Chapel under strict conditions of silence and seclusion.
Though any baptized Catholic man can technically be elected pope, the role is almost always filled by a cardinal. There are currently 252 cardinals, though only 135 are eligible to vote due to the age rule.
Nichols emphasized that despite the media speculation, betting odds, and political punditry surrounding the process, the conclave is rooted in spiritual discernment.
“I know I’ve got to tune out the political maneuvering, Paddy Power’s bets, and all that,” he said. “This is a group of men trying to discern the will of God. That’s the only thing that matters.”
He described the environment within the conclave as one of profound stillness.
“We’ll do our best work once the doors have been shut. Then, there’s peace—and prayerfulness between us.”
Fond Memories of Pope Francis: A Pontiff at Peace
Cardinal Nichols, who leads more than six million Catholics across England and Wales, recounted several personal moments with Pope Francis, whom he described as a man of profound calm, deeply grounded in faith despite the burdens of the office.
“One moment in particular has never left me,” he said. “He told me, ‘From the moment of my election as Pope, my peace has never left me.’”
That inner serenity, Nichols said, stood in contrast to the immense pressures faced by the pontiff over his decade-long tenure.
The archbishop also shared a touching story from their most recent meeting, two years ago. A British author had requested Nichols hand the Pope a copy of his latest book.
“I gave him the book and told him the author was very keen for him to have it. After lunch, he came back with a handwritten card and one of his own books as a return gift. That was quite astonishing.”
From Crosby to the Vatican: A Life of Service
Born in Crosby, on the Merseyside coast, Vincent Nichols has spent a lifetime rising through the ranks of the Church. Ordained in 1969, he was appointed Archbishop of Westminster in 2009 and created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2014. As Britain’s most senior Catholic, Nichols has long played a vital role in both national religious affairs and global Church matters.
Now, on the cusp of his 80th birthday, his focus turns not to personal ambition but to discernment.
“It’s quite intimidating, frankly,” he admitted. “But it’s also a privilege—one that comes with the weight of tradition, the urgency of our times, and the quiet whisper of faith.”
With the funeral of Pope Francis scheduled for Saturday, Cardinal Nichols will soon join his peers in the Sistine Chapel, where centuries of tradition converge in a moment of sacred decision-making.
As the Church prepares for its 267th pontiff, all eyes may be on the conclave, but for Cardinal Nichols, the heart remains on something deeper:
“To discern the will of God. That’s all we’re here to do.”
