ROME — Cardinal Álvaro Ramazzini is attending his first conclave with the same commitment he has shown in his longstanding ministry among Guatemala’s impoverished, Indigenous, and migrant communities. His approach ensures that the Gospel is not merely theoretical.
Since his elevation by Pope Francis to the rank of cardinal in 2019, Ramazzini has continued to advocate for migrants, a key element of Francis’ papacy. Despite the prestige associated with his cardinalship, Ramazzini remains deeply committed to social justice, often at the cost of facing threats. His work in Guatemala, a nation embroiled in political strife and a significant source of migrants to the U.S., highlights these priorities.
“As cardinals, we hold the responsibility of selecting a new pope and must remain mindful of our ongoing journey. This path must be continuously expanded,” Ramazzini noted ahead of the cardinal congregation, slated to elect a successor to Francis. “Our focus should be on upholding the rights of migrants.”
He stressed that the Church must actively support those forced to migrate due to severe poverty, encountering exploitation on cartel-dominated pathways. This support includes shelter aid and advocating for substantive immigration reforms. “We’ve fallen short under various U.S. administrations,” said Ramazzini, referencing presidents Clinton, Obama, Biden, and Trump.
Still, he maintained that abandoning advocacy for migrants and the Church’s mission for social justice initiated during the Second Vatican Council and furthered by Francis would be a grave misstep. “This mission is poised to be a significant task for the next pope,” he remarked at the headquarters of the Scalabrinians, an order dedicated to migrant service since the late 1800s. “We must voice the concerns of those who lack access to influential platforms.”
Throughout his fifty years as a bishop, initially in San Marcos and subsequently in Huehuetenango — regions profoundly affected by Guatemala’s civil war — Ramazzini has witnessed ongoing challenges: severe poverty and drug trafficking forcing many youths to migrate.
While cardinals must keep their discussions confidential as they prepare for the conclave, Ramazzini expressed optimism about the cardinal electors’ wide-ranging perspectives, with 133 individuals participating in the electoral process.
He trusts that the next pope will continue institutional and financial reform efforts commenced by Francis and build upon the inclusive precedent of providing leadership opportunities to women.
Emphasizing that spirituality must be coupled with actions toward social justice, he stated, “This spirituality is nourished by prayer and contemplation of God’s word but must extend in action to others.” Ramazzini anticipates that the new pope will embrace his form of spirituality, crucially without neglecting the Gospel’s practical application.
Ramazzini remains calm about participating in selecting the Church’s new leader, a role he fills with conviction. “I’m confident because I believe that nothing will happen that our Lord Jesus Christ would not allow. Ultimately, He governs the Church, and we serve Him. He will guide us,” he reassured, with a light-hearted certainty that his name will not be chosen.