Interviewer: Fr Wellspring, thank you for joining us tonight to discuss with us such a remarkable man and a very emotional time within the Church.

Father Julian Wellspring: Thank you for having me, it is good to be able to talk to you all there in Australia.

Frederick asks: As a priest, how do you begin to describe the emotion of the last 10 days?

Father Julian Wellspring: It has been an amazing experience. I was in the square when they announced that the Pope was very ill. I was in the s quare for two days. It has been an amazing spiritual time for me personally.

Rosie asks: Today I went to mass for the first time in years. Watching the funeral the other day I felt so rejuvenated spiritually and almost couldn't wait for this morning to arrive. I can't help but wonder how many other Catholics felt the same way.

Father Julian Wellspring: I would say that the funeral itself had a big impact worldwide. It was a simple funeral but an amazing experience. People have had something touched within themselves from a faith perspective.

glen asks: Father Wellspring, what did the letter 'M' mean under the cross on the papal coffin?

Father Julian Wellspring: John Paul II chose that letter for "Mary". It is part of his coat of arms and he chose it in 1978 when he was elected. That M was engraved into the coffin that people saw.

Mingers_PhD asks: The late pope was a man of many respectful qualities. How would you sum up his papacy and his legacy?

Father Julian Wellspring: I think it is difficult to sum up John Paul in a few words. If one had to describe him, one would say he was a great priest. He tried very much to be the vicar of Christ and the successor of Christ for all humanity. I think we have to wait for the passing of history to see his legacy in perspective. There is no doubt that he has given the world and the church so much.

Margarethe asks: Looking to the future, do you think we will see another conservative pope or someone a little more contemporary?

Father Julian Wellspring: In many ways, John Paul was a contemporary pope, with his emphasis on social justice, human rights and his use of the media. Theologically, he was regarded as conservative. In the future, the same sort of mix will more than likely be present.

Lisa asks: What are the top issues his successor will have to face?

Father Julian Wellspring: I think there are a number of issues that his successor will have to face. Most importantly will be the issue of the government of the church — some would like to see more centralisation, others would like to see less. I think very much one of the legacies of John Paul II is that he has made the church a global church, and that will be an issue that will confront the next pope — how to be pastor to a billion people — that will need to be addressed straight away. Other concerns will be that of secularisation — there are many places in the earth that do not have religious freedom. These are some of the issues that the next pope will have to deal with.

ms_moth asks: Could you please explain to us how the Pope changed the rules for the voting process and what the requirements are now?

Father Julian Wellspring: There are a couple of changes that he made. Previously, the pope could be elected by popular acclamation by the cardinals, or through a voting process known as "compromise". The compromise process refers to the ability of one cardinal to give his vote to another cardinal who can then vote with a block of votes. Both those methods have now been abolished. The only way that the pope can now be elected is through a ballot with a 2/3 majority required.

pat79 asks: Where do the cardinals live during the conclave — are there 120 spare bedrooms in the Vatican?

Father Julian Wellspring: Yes, there are 120 spare bedrooms in the Vatican! The place where the cardinals live is called the House of St Martha which was built in the 1990s. It is a very modern building. It has 108 apartment-style rooms and 23 individual rooms. It is very comfortable and it usually acts as a place where people who work in the Vatican reside, but those people will have to leave the building prior to the commencement of conclave.

Michael asks: How is it decided what the new pope will be called, and when will we know? And also, why is a new name given when they are appointed?

Father Julian Wellspring: The person who is elected selects the name himself when he is elected. We will know as soon as the pope is elected what the new name is before he walks out on the balcony as another cardinal will announce the name of the new pope for us. The practise of the pope taking a new name dates from early in the church when an elected pope had a pagan name, "Mercury". He didn't think it was appropriate to keep that name so he changed it — I think he was John I. Since then, popes have always taken a new name when they are elected. Pope John Paul I was the first pope to take two names.

raven asks: I believe that the possibility of sainthood for John Paul II can't be considered for at least four years after his death. Do you think that the process will be pursued when the time comes?

Father Julian Wellspring: Yes, it is correct that usually a person has to be dead four to five years before the process of canonisation will be considered for someone who has died. I believe that the church will look at this after the time period has expired. A new pope could decide to dispense with that time limit if he believed it was appropriate.

mhcho4 asks: To what extent will the cardinals' choice as to pope be governed by politics/strategy regarding issues the church faces, as opposed to say piety

Father Julian Wellspring: The cardinals will certainly be focused on the good of the universal church and on continuing the mission of Jesus Christ when they come to select a successor. There is a political element to such a decision, but I believe to see this as a political decision only, would be to trivialise the process that the cardinals are involved in. The cardinals will be looking out for the common good of the whole church. While there are divisions and groupings within the body of cardinals, I do not believe that they would be governed by their political views only in making a choice.

Terry asks: How dangerous was it for John Paul to study for the priesthood during the war?

Father Julian Wellspring: I believe that John Paul put his life on the line by entering the seminary and by studying in a clandestine seminary in Poland. If the authorities had found out he may have been killed.

JasonWyatt asks: Pope John Paul II did a lot to free Poland from the tyranny of communism, and Christians are still being persecuted in communist China today. What impact do you think the next pope will have on the CCP's oppression of Christians in China?

Father Julian Wellspring: Relationships between the Vatican and China are certainly strained. John Paul II wanted to go to China and was not allowed by authorities. I believe that the next pope will again try and go to China and open China up to the world and evangelisation under the Christian name. The Vatican policy is to be a friend to all nations of the world and I believe the next pope will continue that policy.

Bum asks: The Pope was an awesome leader and a great man so why was he buried in such an ordinary coffin?

Father Julian Wellspring: It was his request to have a very simple funeral. John Paul II often considered Pope Paul VI as his "spiritual father" and modelled his funeral very much on Paul VI's funeral. He also has a very simple grave. If he is canonised in the future, his body would be brought up into St Peter's Basilica where it would be given a more prominent position.

nomis asks: Father, where do you see the church going in the next 20 years or so? Will there be changes as the world changes?

Father Julian Wellspring: I think very much that the dialogue between the church and the world that has been undertaken between John Paul II and the world will continue. Two-hundred years ago, the church was almost opposed to human rights because it was so tied up in the French revolution. Today, the church is one of the champions of human rights. I believe that we will begin to see such evolutions continuing throughout the life of the church.

immaculate asks: Don't miracles have to be performed in Pope John Paul II's name before he can be considered for sainthood? And, have there been any?

Father Julian Wellspring: Yes, there would need to be miracles verified by the Vatican before he could be declared a saint. To my knowledge there have been none recorded at this stage.

michael asks: Dear Father, I have heard it said over the past few days that this pope was a pope for all people. Sadly, as a gay man, I feel totally alienated by the church and particularly hurt by his recent words that I am "intrinsically evil". Tell my mum that!

Father Julian Wellspring: Yes, I think that for a lot of people there is a lot of suffering connected with the church teaching on homosexuality. There are many people who feel excluded by the church from the teaching. Pastorally, I believe the church has sought to reach out to gays through organisations, through COURAGE — I know a number of priests who have done a lot of work to affirm gay people. Obviously, it is a difficulty and a burden for some people to carry. I have a friend who is a gay man and finds it a great cross in his own life. I believe that the example of love that John Paul II put before us shows that we all have an obligation to reach out to each other and to love each other and support each other and not exclude people because of sexuality. All people have a unique human dignity before God and we must always look towards that.

Interviewer: Father Wellspring unfortunately we are out of time, do you have any last words for those that have joined us tonight?

Father Julian Wellspring: Thanks for having me today. I am thinking of Australians right now and praying for them. Take care and God bless.

Interviewer: Once again thank you and goodnight.

Interviewer: This concludes our live chat with Father Julian Wellspring, Thanks for joining us tonight, April 10, 2005.

Produced by ninemsn.com.au in Sydney, Australia
© 2005 ninemsn.com.au.