Catalan cardinal: Conclave debate not between 'progressives and conservatives'

Cardinal Joan Josep Omella, the Archbishop of Barcelona, wants to elect a new pope who "safeguards the unity of the Church" and "guarantees fidelity to the Gospel" and the Church's teachings.

Omella, appointed a cardinal by the late Pope Francis in 2017, is the only Catalan archbishop eligible to become pope, although he has ruled himself out.

Ahead of the conclave in the Vatican to elect the new pope, which begins on Wednesday, Omella, participating for the first time, said he is approaching this "deeply significant gathering for the future of the Catholic Church" with "full confidence."

The cardinal emphasized that this is a "crucial moment" for the Church and acknowledged that it is impossible to "avoid approaching the conclave with a political perspective."

"The debate is not whether we should be progressive or conservative, but rather the objective is to be deeply faithful to the Gospel," he said.

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