CTVNews.ca Staff Published Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 11:43AM EST

A Quebec cardinal says the new leader of the Catholic Church will be chosen based on his spirituality, not through lobbying.

Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte made the comments Tuesday ahead of a trip to Rome where he will be part of the conclave that will elect a new pope after Pope Benedict XVIs retirement.

Before the opening (of the conclave), the cardinals have some meetings together, not to organize the election of so and so, he told reporters during a press conference in Montreal. It's very important that you know that someone who will fight to win the job will be excommunicated.

Turcotte said Canadian Cardinal of the Catholic Church Marc Ouellet -- considered to be among the front-runners to succeed Benedict -- will be an important figure during the upcoming conclave.

Ouellet is a very important one because he is very well-known around the world, Turcotte said. He was involved in the nomination of almost all the bishops in the world.

But we dont know whats going to happen, Turcotte added, explaining that there are a number of cardinals who can replace Benedict.

The pope is not a prime minister or a union leader. Hes a spiritual man, Turcotte said. Its very important that he has very good faith and receives the Holy Spirit in his governing of the Church.

Turcotte and Ouellet will be joined by Archbishop of Toronto Thomas Collins as Canadas three representatives who will convene in the Vaticans Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope.

The first conclave meeting isn't expected to take place until Monday, a Vatican spokesperson said today, since the official convocation to cardinals to come to Rome will only go out on Friday.

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New pope will be chosen based on spirituality, says Quebec cardinal