A shared moment of destiny: Cardinal Alencherry and Pope Francis's Last Conclave Connection

Kochi: As Cardinals took their seats in Clementine Hall to listen to Pope Benedict XVI's farewell speech, Cardinal George Alencherry, then major archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church, found himself seated next to a Latin American cardinal who he did not recognise. Listening attentively was none other than Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who would go on to become the next pontiff. In another remarkable twist, a day before Pope Francis's passing, Cardinal Alencherry turned 80, making Francis the last pope he elected, as age limit now prevents him from attending future conclaves.
In an exclusive chat with TOI, Cardinal Alencherry said Pope Francis's election was quite instantaneous. They say when Benedict XVI was elected, most Cardinals had his name in their minds even before voting. Such kind of prefixation was not there at the time of electing Pope Francis.
"When Pope Benedict bid farewell, my seat was next to Cardinal Bergoglio's. I came to know about it only when I saw a photo of us later. Once the conclave began, there were other names as well. After the first round of election, the members of the conclave take a break, think, pray and meditate. We would consult the directory of the Cardinals and check with the names that have come up. It would go on for a few hours in the chapel before we vote again," said Cardinal Alencherry.
He said that gradually the voting started to get centred around Bergoglio. "Each voting is not abrupt. But in the final stages, if someone is leading by a big difference, the next vote is also done. Likewise, the necessary percentage of votes was secured by Bergoglio. Even after he was elected, I didn't realise he was sitting next to me during the speech," said Alencherry.
"The Pope was healthy and out of sickness. Hence, I wasn't thinking of attending another conclave anyway. His passing came as a shock and Cardinal Koovakad from our Church would be attending," said Alencherry.
He said he lost losing a friend. "You must have seen him embracing our Prime Minister when he went to meet him. He was like that — no distance with anybody but only familiarity, love and friendship," he said.
He said that he gave strong messages as well even to leaders, like when a world leader talked about building a wall separating his country, the Pope talked about making bridges. Alencherry said that the world would remember him for his unique papacy. "By being with the people, the poor, the downtrodden, and the refugees, his papacy may be known as one of mercy," said Alencherry.