What is the Holy Spirit’s Role in the Conclave?

If you think the Holy Spirit only shows up in dramatic moments like Pentecost or at the conclave, Sister Mary Teresa Bettag is here to open your eyes. In a powerful segment on Morning Air with John Morales, she shared stories from Rome, wisdom for everyday life, and a deeper understanding of how the Spirit truly works.

Sister Mary Teresa begins with a vital reminder: the Holy Spirit isn’t a far-off mystery, reserved for cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. He’s at work in every corner of our lives, guiding decisions, inspiring peace, and even helping you decide what to cook for dinner. Whether you’re discerning a vocation or just surviving Monday, He’s there.

Sister’s personal story reads like divine poetry. She was in Rome the day Pope Francis was elected, when a stranger shared that he had once ridden the bus with Cardinal Bergoglio. Years later, she returned to Rome on Easter Monday, just as news of Pope Francis’ passing spread. Everything on her trip halted for mourning. Sister Mary Teresa saw it as providence: a sacred bookend to a holy papacy.

Sister described the conclave not as a political election but as a spiritual discernment. No campaigning. No agendas. Just silence, humility, and openness to the Holy Spirit. It’s not just the cardinals who pick the next pope. They only decide after listening to the Lord. That’s why, she said, it’s so important to pray for the cardinals.

When a student once asked how to “listen to God,” Sister offered these beautiful and simple steps:

• Be silent—God speaks in stillness.
• Ask questions—make prayer a dialogue, not a monologue.
• Expect a response—God is the Word.

Her message was clear: if we learned to really listen, our lives would transform.

“The Holy Spirit is God. And we don’t want to leave God behind.” That’s Sister’s final reminder. As Eastertide leads us toward Pentecost, she urges us to remember that the Book of Acts is the “Gospel of the Holy Spirit.” Let Him animate your life wherever you are—The Vatican or the States, conclave or carpool line.

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At this pivotal moment in our Church history, don’t just observe the conclave – understand it, experience it, and pray through it with Relevant Radio at Conclave2025.com.