From the Pulpit: Omaha metro faith leaders discuss selection of next Pope, existence of angels – Omaha World-Herald

Monarch butterfly pollinates flowers in Omaha garden
Jesus Christ is the true leader of the Catholic Church, but the Pope plays a very important role as the human leader and pastor of the worldwide Church. Today is the final day of the novendiales — a nine-day period to mourn and pray for a deceased Pope. We remember with gratitude the life and ministry of Pope Francis, who died April 21st.
Many have now turned their attention to the upcoming conclave, where Pope Francis’ successor will be chosen. While conclaves do involve rounds of voting, this process is wrongly portrayed by much of secular media as if it were a political exercise where candidates lobby to make their personal vision the Church’s mission. In reality, the conclave is a spiritual exercise, and the cardinals all share the Church’s sole, unchangeable mission — to share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ with each human person.
Each new Pope is the latest in the line of successors of St. Peter the Apostle, the first Pope (cf. Mt. 16:18-19). The Bible does not tell us how St. Peter’s successor was chosen, but it does tell us how Judas Iscariot’s successor was chosen. Judas was not a Pope, but looking at Acts 1:15-26 gives us insight into the spiritual nature of this process. Two disciples who had walked in faith with Jesus were presented before the gathered group of 120 disciples. They all prayed together, asking the Lord to identify Judas’s successor. St. Matthias is chosen as the next apostle, with the mission of witnessing to Jesus’s resurrection.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “The Church, clasping sinners to her bosom, follows constantly the path of penance and renewal. All members of the Church, including her ministers, must acknowledge that they are sinners.” (Paragraph 827) Of the 266 Popes in history, eight are widely regarded as “bad Popes,” and the Church acknowledges these with sorrow for their offenses. Another 80 Popes, while still imperfect sinners, lived such holy, exemplary lives that they have been canonized as saints.
Popes are human, but the Holy Spirit equips them for ministry. Immediately after St. Matthias was chosen, Acts recounts the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This serves as a reminder to us, too. Each one of us is a sinner in need of God’s mercy. Each one of us is called by God into his service. Equipped by the Holy Spirit, we can become saints.
— Rev. Tobias Letak, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church
Iman in the existence of Allah’s Angels.
The second pillar of Iman is to believe in the existence of Angels. He created them from light before humans were created only to worship him. The Quran says:
“And those nearest to Him are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they tire.” Quran [21:19]
Muslims believe in the existence of angels, that they are God’s creation, and that some of them are named.
Muslims believe in angels and that they constantly record our actions. Also, the revelation from God to Muhammad (PBUH) was through an Angel, i.e., Jibreel, the closest angel of God, blowing the trumpet on Judgment Day, taking the souls of individuals (the angel of death), and being the guardians of heaven and hell, are some of the different duties of angels.
Angels are assigned to perform certain tasks such as:
1. Jibreel (Gabriel) – in charge of communication between Allah’s to his prophets, as well to send the revelation to the messengers.
2. Israfeel (Raphael) – in charge of blowing the trumpet starting the Day of Judgment
3. Mikail (Michael) – in charge of giving sustenance to the human being.
4. Munkar & Nakeer – in charge of questioning the human soul after death in the grave about their deeds during life.
5. Malak Al-Maut/Izrael (Angel of Death) – in charge of taking the souls from the body at the time of death.
6. Malik – in charge of the guardian of hell
7. Ridwan – in charge of guardian of heaven
8. Ateed – writing all the bad deeds of a human during the world’s life.
9. Raqeeb – writing all the good deeds of a human during the world’s life.
Whatever name we don’t know, we generally believe in them and believe everything we know about their characteristics and actions.
They do not have any of the attributes of divinity. They are part of the unseen world.
As far as actions are concerned: They worship Allah, glorify him and do whatever they are commanded to do.
As for obedience, God has blessed them with complete submission to his command and strength in carrying it out. They have an innate nature to obey.
And the number of angels is countless except by Allah. Among them are the bearers of the Throne, the Guardians of Paradise, the Guardians of Hell, the Guardians of humans, the Recorders, and others.
It is very important for Muslims to believe that each person has two angels with him who record all their deeds in a book, regardless of whether they are good deeds or sins.
— Imam Mohamad Jamal Daoudi, Al-Taqwa Islamic Center of Elkhorn
Christine Mahon waves at passing cars with other protestors lining Dodge Street to voice discontent with President Trump’s administration at Memorial Park in Omaha on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Organizers of the Omaha protest are calling on Trump and Elon Musk to take their hands off the programs that middle class and working families rely on and asking elected officials to take a stand. The protest is part of a nationwide movement, with over 1,000 protests planned across the country Saturday.
Erin Kelly, owner of Rinkel, adjusts the sleeves on Chrissa King’s dress before Conscious Collection Fest’s sustainable fashion showcase at Floors Floors Floors in Omaha on Friday, April 4, 2025. The showcase, one event from the four-day festival centered on community and slow fashion, highlighted curated second hand, vintage and upcycled collections.
Omaha’s Tyler Bishop (2) tags Nebraska’s Riley Silva (1)/ for the second out in the first inning during a college baesball game at Tal Anderson Field in Omaha, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Bishop initially bobbled the ball but recovered to make the out
Attorney David A. Domina listens to opposing arguments during a Nebraska Supreme Court session held at Omaha Bryan high school in Bellevue, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
John Ewing speaks to supporters during the municipal primary election watch party for John Ewing at the Omaha Press Club in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Andrea Norris, a content creator who shares fun things in Nebraska, makes a video for TikTok at Woodees in Lincoln on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. A video of hers unexpectedly went viral after Norris jokingly asked if anyone cared about the state, opening up a huge political discussion and some misinformation.
Audrey Christensen puts on lipstick before Conscious Collection Fest’s sustainable fashion showcase at Floors Floors Floors in Omaha on Friday, April 4, 2025. The showcase, one event from the four-day festival centered on community and slow fashion, highlighted curated second hand, vintage and upcycled collections.
Omaha’s Henry Zipay (1) drops a pop fly off the bat of Nebraska’s Tyler Stone (55) with two outs in the ninth inning during a college baesball game at Tal Anderson Field in Omaha, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
People watch the first results on TV for the municipal primary election during the watch party for Mike McDonnell at the Omaha Firefighters Hall in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Omaha’s Maddox Meyer (28) celebrates the last out ina win over Nebraska during a college baesball game at Tal Anderson Field in Omaha, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
The Omaha dugout comes out to celebrate with Drew Borner (24) after Borner hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to break the tie with Nebraska during a college baesball game at Tal Anderson Field in Omaha, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
Omaha’s Eli Hoerner (10) celebrates with Drew Borner (24) after Borner hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to break the tie with Nebraska during a college baesball game at Tal Anderson Field in Omaha, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
Omaha’s Trent Burkhalter(6) tries to catch a ball thrown by Omaha’s Jackson Trout (20) as Nebraska’s Cayden Brumbaugh (0) scores on sacrafice fly by Nebraska’s Max Buettenback (11) during a college baesball game at Tal Anderson Field in Omaha, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
Polling booths sit empty inside Nathan Hale Middle School in Omaha on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Erick Estevez fills out his ballot at Walnut Hill Elementary School in Omaha on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Tim Fickenscher, an election official, puts a ballot in the ballot box during the municipal primary election at New Life Presbyterian in Omaha on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Creighton’s Will MacLean (17) celebrates after recording the final out during the ninth inning of a college baseball game at Hawks Field in Lincoln on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Brian Rosen walks into Sokol Arena before a press conference introducing him as the new volleyball coach in Omaha on Monday, April 7, 2025. Creighton athletic director Marcus Blossom, front, and former head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth walk with Rosen.
LaToya Henderson holds Na’Zier, her grandson, while her daughter Jamirriah Nelson watches in Omaha, on Friday, April 4, 2025. Na’Zier’s father, Shalamar Davis Jr., was shot and killed on March 25. Henderson had just met Na’Zier the day before her son was killed.
LaToya Henderson holds Na’Zier, her grandson in Omaha, on Friday, April 4, 2025. Na’Zier’s father, Shalamar Davis Jr., was shot and killed on March 25. Henderson had just met Na’Zier the day before her son was killed.
Lynn Painter, a local author, signs copies of her books for Lynley Janovich, left, and Sami Nair at the opening of Barnes & Noble in Papillion on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
Other models hype up Kailah Greenwood while she has her photo taken before Conscious Collection Fest’s sustainable fashion showcase at Floors Floors Floors in Omaha on Friday, April 4, 2025. The showcase, one event from the four-day festival centered on community and slow fashion, highlighted curated second hand, vintage and upcycled collections.
Iona Fortune, a burlesque dancer and costumer, goes through her costume closet at her home in Bellevue on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Fortune, which is her stage name, tries to emphasize sustainability with her costume decisions by buying vintage and secondhand pieces and giving them a new life.
A truck is turned over on I480 near Cuming Street in Omaha, on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
A truck is turned over on I480 near Cuming Street in Omaha, on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
A truck is turned over on I480 near Cuming Street in Omaha, on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Omaha police investigate a shooting near 30th and Q streets Omaha, on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
The path of a tornado along with debris can be seen in a farm field near Nashville, on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
A tornados seen just north of Doudglas County from Highway 75 , on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
RVs are damaged from a tornado in Nashville, on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
Golfball-sized hail rests in a yard in Nashville, on Thursday, April 17, 2025. A quarter was placed to give a size reference.
Clouds darken the sky as a storm that later produced a tornado is seen west of Highway 75 north of Omaha, on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
RVs are damaged from a tornado in Nashville, on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
Lightning strikes behind Cameron McNew poses for a portrait after a tornado his his house near Nashville, on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
A rainbow forms behiind golfball sized hail in Nashville, on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
Judd Heaton, 3, runs near the damaged house of his neighbor Cameron McNew near Nashville, on Thursday, April 17, 2025. McNew’s house was hit by a tornado.
A tornado damaged the night before this home near 84th Street south of Dutch Hall Road in northern Douglas County on Friday, April 18, 2025.
A tornado damaged the night before this home near 84th Street south of Dutch Hall Road in northern Douglas County on Friday, April 18, 2025. On the wall is the “Serenity Prayer” which starts with the line “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.”
Lashawna Jones is overcome with emotion as she screams “my daughter is dead,” at N.P. Dodge Park in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. First responders had found her daughter and another girl earlier in the day.  Three students had gone missing in the river two weeks ago, all three have now been recovered.
Family and friends react after first responders tell family and friends the found the body of the third Omaha student in the Missouri River at N.P. Dodge Park in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
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Monarch butterfly pollinates flowers in Omaha garden
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