In a letter published today, Bishop Javier Echevarría added: «We do not know who the next pope will be, but, whoever he is, he will be Peter, and we already support him with our prayer, appealing to the intercession of Holy Mary, Mother of the Church.»
Bishop Echevarría invites members of the Prelature of Opus Dei, «united to all Catholics to pray and offer sacrifices — with supernatural peace during these days, full of hope — for the one the Holy Spirit will place at the head of the Church.»
St. Josemaría Escrivá’s second successor recalls previous conclaves that he lived through together with the founder, in 1958 and 1963.
Bishop Echevarría said of Monsignor Escrivá: «I cannot forget the insistence with which he encouraged prayer and the offering of everything for the next Pope.»
