Cardinal Mykola Bychok, who at 45 was the youngest cardinal in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV, has described the experience as unforgettable. Source: ABC News.
“Just only two times I experienced it like goose skin,” Cardinal Bychok said.
“That was before the procession when we were going to the Sistine Chapel. And the second one, it was before the official announcement of the new pope,” he said.
The Ukrainian-born, Melbourne-based cardinal appeared to have a weight lifted off his shoulders on Friday, in his first public appearance since the conclave.
The public will never know exactly who backed Pope Leo XIV, or why his election only took four rounds of voting.
Like all 133 voting cardinals, Cardinal Bychok took an oath of secrecy before the vote began.
While he was careful to keep it, he did shed some light on what went on behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel in the conclave that chose the 267th pope.
The second question was whether he voted for Pope Leo XIV. While his minders bristled, the cardinal answered without missing a beat.
“I support not only Pope Leo, but every cardinal by my prayer,” he said with a smile.
Cardinal Bychok was more forthright when pressed about the accuracy of the movie Conclave, released last year.
The cardinal confirmed he had watched it and joked it wasn’t helpful ahead of his first conclave.
“Actually, it was controversial, especially about prayer,” he chuckled, as the room filled with laughter.
The cardinal disagreed with the film’s portrayal of political factions inside the conclave.
“The main task, not only cardinals, but as well priests, is to proclaim the word of God, not to be in this party or that party,” he said.
There were definitely no cardinals watching the movie during the conclave, given the strict technology blackout.
Cardinal Bychok light-heartedly described it as “the best time of my life” and encouraged everyone to give it a go.
“Just try! Try to turn off your phone at least for 24 hours or at least — my phone was turned off for two and a half days,” he laughed.
FULL STORY
Australian cardinal Mykola Bychok says conclave was the ‘best time of my life’ (By Syan Vallance and Elias Clure, ABC News)
RELATED COVERAGE
No phones, lots of prayer: Australian cardinal’s insight into secretive Vatican conclave (The Guardian)
Australian cardinal Mykola Bychok’s hot take on the hit movie Conclave (News.com.au)
