HONG KONG (SE): Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., bishop of Hong Kong, described his participation in the recent papal conclave as a deeply spiritual experience marked by discernment, global attention, and a strong sense of pastoral responsibility. Speaking in Rome to America magazine’s Vatican correspondent, Gerard O’Connell, Cardinal Stephen shared his reflections on the process that led to the election of Pope Leo XIV.
Cardinal Stephen was the only Chinese cardinal eligible to vote in this conclave and only the third in history to serve as an elector. Thomas Cardinal Tien Ken-sin, the former archbishop of Peking, who was made a cardinal by Pius XII in 1946 but was expelled from China in 1951, voted in the 1958 conclave that elected Pope John XXIII and in the 1963 conclave that elected Pope Paul VI. The second was John Cardinal Tong Hon, then bishop of Hong Kong, who voted in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis.
In the interview, which took place in Rome on May 13, Cardinal Stephen recalled entering the conclave without expectations or any personal candidate in mind. “For me as a Jesuit, I know this is discernment,” he said. “The whole idea of going into a conclave means you need to open yourself, so you have the inner freedom to connect with the Spirit.”
The pre-conclave General Congregations, where cardinals from around the world shared their thoughts and hopes for the Church, played a key role in shaping the direction of the election. “Listening to my fellow cardinals, I got a sense of the desired future of the Church. That helped me see what kind of person could be the successor of Peter after Francis.”
A recurring theme emerged in those days of listening and prayer: the need for a pastoral pope. Cardinal Stephen said it became clear that the next pope had to be someone who could continue the legacy of Pope Francis in reaching beyond Church walls. “After his death, 400,000 people came to say goodbye. It was clear we were not just electing a pope for the Church, but a pastor for the world.”
The cardinal noted how much global interest surrounded the conclave, especially from the media. “Every day, walking to the synod hall, we had to pass through crowds of journalists. There were 6,000 of them,” he said. “That shows how much people care, even non-Catholics.”
The whole idea of going into a conclave means you need to open yourself, so you have the inner freedom to connect with the Spirit
Cardinal Stephen
Inside the conclave, the cardinals observed strict confidentiality. They had no access to phones or the Internet. Cardinal Stephen described the atmosphere inside the Sistine Chapel as solemn and sacred. “You feel the weight of history, but also the future. It’s a very sacred moment.”
Language, however, posed a challenge. While the Mass before the conclave and the oath were in Latin and Italian, Cardinal Stephen—like some others—struggled to follow. “We weren’t even coached on how to pronounce the Latin oath. And we didn’t realise it was being live-streamed—it was embarrassing,” he admitted. He praised the translators who worked during the General Congregations and urged that future conclaves provide better language support.
Concerning the voting process, Cardinal Stephen said, “The first ballot is always scattered. But it reveals who the serious candidates are.” It was during the second day of voting, after overnight reflection and prayer, that the direction became more evident. “It’s really the Holy Spirit who brings us together—if we listen.”
When Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost—who would become Pope Leo XIV—received the required 89 votes, the chapel erupted in applause. Pietro Cardinal Parolin, who presided over the conclave, asked if he accepted. He did, replying, “Accepto,” to another wave of clapping.
Following tradition, the new pope withdrew briefly to the “Room of Tears,” and returned to greet his brother cardinals. When it was Cardinal Stephen’s turn, he presented the Holy Father with a statue of Our Lady of Sheshan, patroness of the Church in China. “I said to him, ‘Please don’t forget the Church in China and the Chinese people.’ He was surprised and grateful.”
Looking back, Cardinal Stephen says, “I’m grateful to my brother cardinals, who were responding to the prompting of the Spirit, because if a conclave lasts a long, long time, it’s probably because we are not really listening or responding to the Spirit.”
