Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of France showered praises upon children at a lively church in Monti, while Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary requested prayers for his fellow cardinals near the iconic Colosseum, and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of Congo joined in a united front of priests in western Rome. These three cardinals, seen as potential candidates but not frontrunners for the papacy, participated in Mass this past Sunday, marking some of their last public moments before the upcoming conclave set to commence on Wednesday.

While their addresses were not overt electoral campaigns, the cardinals crafted subtle messages during their homilies and through their engagement with parishioners regarding the type of pope they envision or might represent. Each cardinal is linked to a titular church in Rome, which they have the freedom to choose for Mass celebrations. Prominent candidates, such as Cardinal Aveline and renowned Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines, have recently attracted large congregations.

The atmosphere around the Vatican saw less activity from the Italian front-runners, Cardinals Pietro Parolin and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who opted out of Sunday sermons. Their restraint echoes the strategy of seasoned politicians opting for silence to maintain their positions without jeopardizing their influence.