Tuesday's press conference at the cathedral in Stockholm is the last time for a while that journalists will have access to Sweden's cardinal. Soon, Anders Arborelius will travel to Rome to attend the Pope's funeral. Afterwards, he will participate in the so-called conclave, where he is one of 135 cardinals who will vote for the next Pope.
I'm trying to see if I can find a ticket, I want to be there in good time, he says.
Arborelius met the Pope several times and describes him as an authentic person, who never shied away from saying uncomfortable things – about peace, the environment, and the world's poor – and also about abortion and "reconciliation in Ukraine".
"Was needed now"
He mentions that the Pope, for example, 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 no when something was not right, says Arborelius.
Considering the state of the world, the Pope was needed now, he notes.
What the Pope stood for is in danger. His voice has fallen silent, but his spirit lives on.
Several international media outlets have listed Arborelius as a potential candidate. He himself dismisses the speculations as fantasies.
We Swedes think it's fun when a Swede becomes Secretary-General of the UN or wins international matches. There's a bit of light nationalism in this, but I think it's highly unlikely.
People are so fixated on this, I'm getting a bit tired of it, he replies when he is asked the question again by a journalist.
Pope Francis himself chose a majority of the cardinals who will now vote to replace him. Historically, many of them come from Asia, Africa, or South America.
It's a bit unsettling for many Europeans that Europe is no longer at the center of the Church's life, says Arborelius.
May be difficult to agree
Since the cardinals are so scattered around the world, they haven't had time to get to know each other well yet, which he believes can make it more difficult to come to an agreement on a suitable candidate.
Anders Arborelius hopes for a quick process and that he can be back home in Sweden again in "a couple of weeks".
Before Pope Francis died, Anders Arborelius had asked to no longer be a cardinal. Arborelius longs to return to life in the monastery in Skåne. The Pope had granted the request – but didn't want to say when.
So right now I'm a bit loose, says the cardinal to SVT's reporter.
