Since Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, the cardinal has received condolences from several parts of Swedish society, he says at a press conference.
I have already noticed that this death has engaged so many people even outside the Catholic Church's small part in Sweden, he says.
Arborelius, who met the Pope several times, describes the church leader as an authentic person who never shied away from saying uncomfortable things – about peace, the environment, and the world's poor – and also about opposition to abortion and "reconciliation in Ukraine".
He mentions that the Pope had reprimanded the US Vice President JD Vance during his visit shortly before the Pope's death.
He wanted to have a dialogue with everyone, but he also wanted to say when something was not right, says Arborelius.
Considering the state of the world, the Pope was needed right now, he notes.
What the Pope stood for is in danger. Right now, we needed the Pope in all these important issues. His voice has fallen silent, but his spirit lives on.
Arborelius will soon travel to Rome to attend the funeral on Saturday.
I'm trying to see if I can find a ticket, I want to be there in good time, he says.
"Nationalism light"
Arborelius is one of the eligible cardinals in the "conclave" that will elect a new Pope. He dismisses the notion that he himself has been mentioned as a candidate as fantasies.
We Swedes think it's fun when a Swede becomes Secretary-General of the UN or wins international matches. There's probably a bit of nationalism light in this, but I think it's highly unlikely.
The Pope appointed many of the cardinals who will elect the successor, and many of them come from places other than Europe.
He has worked for a spiritual globalization, which is a bit unsettling for many Europeans that Europe is no longer at the center of the Church's life, says Arborelius to TT.
"Longing to reach out"
Since the cardinals are so scattered around the world, they have not had time to get to know each other well yet, which he believes can make it more difficult to come up with a suitable candidate.
He does not want to acknowledge the image of a struggle between progressive and conservative forces in the Church. Ultimately, it's about following the Gospel for the new Pope, he says.
He needs to be a person deeply rooted in the Gospel and have a longing to reach out with the message, even beyond their own ranks.
What are the biggest challenges for the successor?
Secularization, materialism, the difference between the poor and the rich, oppression. What the world is struggling with, the Church must also struggle with.
