VATICAN CITY: Arriving in Rome after Pope Francis鈥檚 death, Catholic cardinals have admitted some apprehension at the responsibility of choosing his successor, as they begin setting out what they hope to see in the next head of the Church.
The task of choosing a new pope to replace the Argentine, who died on Monday aged 88, 鈥渋s beyond us and yet requires us,鈥� said French cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, summing up the mood after celebrating a mass on Thursday evening.
鈥淲e feel very small. We have to make decisions for the whole Church, so we really need to pray for ourselves,鈥� added Luxembourg鈥檚 Jean-Claude Hollerich, a Jesuit who was a close adviser to Francis.
The conclave is likely to begin right after the nine days of mourning declared by the Holy See, which end on May 4, he said, adding that he was approaching the occasion with 鈥済reat hope鈥� but also 鈥渁 certain apprehension.鈥�
Cardinal electors 鈥� those aged under 80 鈥� will choose a new leader for the 1.4-billion-strong Roman Catholic church behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel.
Playing out under Michelangelo鈥檚 frescoes, the process is often perceived as full of intrigue and machinations.
But Cardinal Francois-Xavier Bustillo, the bishop of Ajaccio in Corsica, said his fellow cardinals should eschew political games and listen to each other before deciding.
We must not act tactically or strategically,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e must serve and act responsibly.鈥�

On Friday morning, all cardinals already in Rome 鈥� electors and those who are too old 鈥� gathered at the Vatican for their fourth meeting since Francis鈥檚 death.
Known as 鈥済eneral congregations,鈥� these gatherings provide an opportunity to exchange views and discuss the priorities of the next pontificate.
With their trademark scarlet skullcaps, cardinals are not hard to spot around the colonnades of St. Peter鈥檚 Square 鈥� something that makes them an easy target for journalists hoping to get a steer on who the next pope might be.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a good atmosphere between us. It鈥檚 you who make the predictions,鈥� Italy鈥檚 Fernando Filoni quipped to reporters as he entered a meeting. 鈥淲e鈥檙e getting to know each other.鈥�
Francis, who appointed 80 percent of the 135 electors eligible to choose his successor, prioritized the Global South and far-flung regions away from Rome when picking new cardinals.
British cardinal Vincent Nichols said the prospect of choosing the next pope was 鈥渜uite intimidating frankly.鈥�
Cardinals would do their 鈥渂est work once the doors of the conclave have been shut,鈥� he told the BBC, adding seclusion would allow for 鈥減eace and a prayerfulness between us.鈥�
Yet cardinals have discretely begun work to narrow the list of candidates.
Asked whether the time had come for an African or Asian pope, Archbishop Hollerich replied: 鈥淲hy not? But it鈥檚 not a given.鈥�
Skills and personality were more important than geography, he said, adding that a pope would always be a unifying figure.
The ideal candidate would be a 鈥渟imple man鈥� who is 鈥渘ot too young nor too old,鈥� 鈥渃an connect with people鈥� and 鈥渒nows how to listen鈥� to both those on the left and on the right, he said.
However German cardinal Gerhard Muller, a staunch conservative who was among the leading voices opposing Francis鈥檚 progressive approach, said the Church risked a schism if it elected another liberal.
鈥淭he question is not between conservatives and liberals but between orthodoxy and heresy,鈥� he told British newspaper The Times.
Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras said he hoped for a pontiff who would carry Francis鈥檚 torch.
鈥淎 simple, humble person. A pontiff who will break up the power struggles in the Church,鈥� he told Italian daily La Stampa.
Aged 82, he will not have a say in the selection but remains hopeful.
鈥淚 am convinced that in the end everyone will have common sense. Cardinals are not people without faith,鈥� he said.