By John Ogunsemore
Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri has said the process of selecting a new pope has no scriptural basis.
Omokri said this in a Facebook post as 133 cardinal electors on Wednesday entered into conclave to elect a new pope.
Each round of voting will take around two hours, as each of the cardinals individually casts his ballot.
Being the first day, today will only have a round of voting.
However, for the next four days, as many as four rounds can be held — two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
Omokri, a pastor and socio-political commentator, argued that democracy, while being suitable for electing political leaders, cannot be adopted for selecting spiritual leaders.
“The act of electing a new Pope by Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church has no precedent in Scripture,” he said.
According to him, electing a leader of the Ekklesia (church) is done by divine election.
“This means that names are put forward, and God chooses the right person by casting lots, otherwise known as divination,” he said.
He added, “That is how the eleven surviving disciples of Yeshua (Jesus) chose Matthias to succeed Yehudah Issachari (Judas Iscariot).”
Omokri noted that this process is still being used to choose kings and priests in Yorubaland.
Quoting Biblical texts, he asked, “Would it not be more in keeping with Scripture for any church that purports to be founded on Scriptural and New Testament doctrines to follow the example of the early disciples?”
“Democracy is an ideal way of choosing political leaders. However, some would argue that it runs counter to Scripture when it is used to select spiritual leaders, which states that Theocracy should be the norm in the House of God.
“Again, from the bottom of my heart, I say this was not written to offend. It is an intellectual labour of love from me to the body of believers,” Omokri said.