As a member of the Catholic Church, I pray that they embrace this opportunity and choose a pope who can fill this leadership void and be a voice and vision for justice, peace, growth, compassion and a better world.

As Church leaders gather in the coming days to begin the process of choosing the next pope, they will be doing so during a time of significant global uncertainty and division, a time where leadership rooted in kindness, humanity and unity is sorely needed and craved.