"Everyone is speculating and quoting all kinds of 'sources' that have nothing to do with the facts. It would therefore be better if we could talk more freely about how the election actually went," Nemet told the Hungarian online portal "Szemlelek" (Wednesday).
He could understand that the strict Vatican rules are intended to prevent gossip about so-called "losing" candidates after the election, the cardinal continued. "But if it were up to me, I would break with this secrecy. Otherwise all kinds of rumours will start circulating. Like what has just happened."
Why did the conclave happen so quickly?
Nemet explained the rapid election of Pope Leo XIV in the fourth ballot by the fact that Prevost fulfilled the criteria that had crystallised in the cardinals' deliberations beforehand.
"He had to have missionary experience and spirit as well as pastoral practice. We were not looking for someone who had spent his entire priestly or episcopal life in ministries or in the Roman Curia."
The new Pope should also speak several languages and have worked on at least two continents, reported the Vice-President of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE): "Pope Leo XIV fulfilled all these requirements: He was born in North America, spent several decades in South America and also knows his way around Europe."
Ladislav Nemet (68) has been Archbishop of Belgrade since 2022.
Nemet previously travelled to the Philippines, Poland, Austria, Croatia and Hungary for his religious order, the Steyler Missionaries.
He became Bishop of Zrenjanin in 2008. He also worked at the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the UN in Vienna.
Today, in addition to his office as Archbishop, Nemet is also Chairman of the "Bishops' Conference of Saints Cyril and Methodius", which is spread across several Balkan countries.