Manila: The Apostolic Nunciature to the Philippines has urged the Filipino faithful to offer prayers for the College of Cardinals as they prepare to begin the process of selecting Pope Francis' successor next week. The preparations for the conclave, set to commence on May 7, are currently underway.

According to Philippines News Agency, Archbishop Charles Brown, the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, emphasized the importance of prayer and intercession for the cardinals who will gather to deliberate. "Everyone should be praying for the conclave, reflecting and thanking God for the gift of Pope Francis, and praying for the cardinals who now have this very important job of discerning," Archbishop Brown stated in an interview.

In the lead-up to the conclave, Archbishop Brown noted that the cardinals will participate in a series of meetings at the Vatican as part of the selection process. These meetings will focus on reflecting upon the legacy of Pope Francis, which will inform the decisions made during the conclave.

Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will play a significant role in the preparations by assisting Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, who is responsible for overseeing the Vatican's day-to-day operations during the interim period without a pope.

A report from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines news site revealed that Cardinal Tagle has been appointed to join the 'Particular Congregation' alongside German Cardinal Reinhard Marx and French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti. The CBCP report explained that the "Particular Congregation" is renewed every three days during the "General Congregation," which involves all members of the College of Cardinals. These bodies are responsible for church administration during the vacancy of the Holy See, with significant decisions being managed by the General Congregation.