AMERICA - As the world waits for the election of a new Pope the pilgrim Church in Latin America is united in prayer with the universal Church that the Holy Spirit may guide the conclave of cardinals

Rome (Fides Service) - Numerous initiatives are being organised by the local Churches in Latin America to invoke the Holy Spirit to guide the work of the Conclave and enlighten the Cardinals called to elect the next Pope.
While the Church in Mexico encourages Catholics to pray intensely it says with confidence that the “whoever he is, from what ever nation he hails, the Pope will be called to make the fruits of the Pontificate of John Paul II multiply and to extend the horizons of evangelisation all over the world”.
The Bishops’ Conference of Chile started its 89th general assembly today with a solemn Mass “for the election of the Roman Pontiff” at Punta de Tralca retreat house presided by Bishop Alejandro Goic, President of the Bishops’ Conference. At 7pm there will be a solemn Mass in Santiago de Chile cathedral to pray that the Holy Spirit may guide the work of the Cardinal electors. Bishop Ricardo Ezzati auxiliary of Santiago said: “We pray to the Holy Spirit to give us a Pope after his own heart whom he has prepared for this important task”.
In Colombia on Sunday 17 April during a solemn Mass in Bogota cathedral presided by Archbishop Beniamino Stella, papal nuncio in Colombia, people prayed and entrusted to the Lord the election of the shepherd for the universal Church.
In Peru on Saturday 16 April thousands of people in Callao diocese took part in a Mass of thanksgiving for the pontificate of Pope John Paul II during which they prayed to God to give the Church a Pope who will continue the mission as shepherd of the universal Church. In Ayacucho diocese in the Andes mountain region masses are being said and prayers offered for the eternal repose of the soul of John Paul II and for the Conclave. Archbishop Luis Sebastiani Aguirre of Ayacucho urged the faithful to pray to the Holy Spirit that he may send a universal shepherd “after the heart of Christ ”. On 18 May, the late Pontiff’s date of birth, Ayacucho archdiocese will make a pilgrimage to the airport to commemorate Pope John Paul II’s visit to Peru in 1985.
The Bishops’ Conference of Paraguay calls Catholics to unite in prayer for the new successor of Peter who will be faced with the enormous challenge of guiding the Church in a world marked by difficulties and serious problems in every field. “As Vicar of Christ on earth the Pope must reflect the image of Christ in a world marked by disorientation and a culture of death opening his arms to embrace all peoples, the poorest and weakest in particular, according to the teaching of the Gospel”. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 18/4/2005; righe 37, parole 478)