Bangladesh, May 7 -- On May 7, the eyes of the world turned once again to Vatican City, where Roman Catholic cardinals began the sacred task of electing a new pope. Following the death of Pope Francis last month, the College of Cardinals gathered in a time-honored ritual steeped in centuries of tradition to choose a leader who can guide the Churchs 1.4 billion members through an era marked by deep internal divisions and global uncertainty.

The process began with a solemn Mass at St. Peters Basilica, where the cardinals prayed for divine guidance. Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, urged his fellow churchmen to put aside personal interests and focus solely on the good of the Church and humanity. &...