A papal conclave blends the political and the spiritual, cardinals and theologians say. Here, in Catholic belief, is how the Holy Spirit fits in.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of thy love. V. Send forth thy spirit and they shall be created. R. And thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

So we invoke the Holy Spirit to come down with his gifts upon the cardinals — especially the gifts of wisdom, prudence, courage and fear of the Lord — and also to give them the actual graces ...

All of the liturgical and devotional prayers to the Holy Spirit within the tradition of prayer of the Church are grounded on the foundational and simple petition that the Spirit come to us.

Amen. come thou light of all that live. Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set you, my Lord and God, before my face forever; help me to shun all things ...

I need the reminder to rest. To pause and remember that praying “Come, Holy Spirit” begins by stopping to draw breath, in order to ask God to breathe the Spirit into the church and the world.