Habemus Papam!- Pope Francis the First!
As we waited in the square for the smoke this evening, a
lone seagull flew over and sat on top of the Sistine Chapel chimney. Everybody
Cheered. It stayed there for about 30 minutes. I think it was the Holy Spirit.
And then at a little past seven, this light wispy smoke started coming out, and
after a second, we all shouted “It’s white!!!” and everyone started jumping up
and down and screaming. Just knowing we had a shepherd – though we didn’t know
who he was – was a huge load off our shoulders. It had been raining continually
before the smoke, but just before it, the rain stopped, and it hasn’t returned
since.
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| Saint Peter's Square before the white smoke March 13th |
Even before he came out, the crowds started chanting
“Francis, Francis”.
When Pope Francis came out, he just stood there and looked
at us, smiling, for 2 minutes. Then he joked that the cardinals went to the
ends of the earth to get him! He asked us to pray with him for Pope Benedict,
and we all prayed an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory be. I think that with
the global audience participating, it’s probably the time the most people have
praye the Lord’s Prayer together. That’s who the Pope is, the one who brings us
together before God.
Before he gave us his blessing, he asked us to pray for him.
Then he bowed his head and we all prayed for him in silence. It was beautiful.
Below is the text of his first words as Pope. Tomorrow he
has mass with the Cardinals, then the next day also with the older cardinals,
then on Saturday he has a meeting with journalists, then Sunday his first
Angelus address, then on Tuesday, the feast of Saint Joseph, we’ll have the
mass for the inauguration of his pontificate.
Tomorrow is a big feast day here at the seminary in honor of
our new Pope Francis. Let’s place him and the whole Church in God’s hands!
God bless you and have a good night!
Brother Kevin
Brothers and sisters, good evening!
You know that the duty of the Conclave was
to give a bishop to Rome. It seems as though my brother cardinals went almost
to the end of the world to get him. But here we are. I thank you for your
welcome. The diocesan community of Rome has a bishop. Thank you!
Before all else, I would like to say a
prayer for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI. Let us all pray together for him,
that the Lord may bless him and that Our Lady may watch over him …
[Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory be]
And now let us begin this journey,
[together] as bishop and people. This journey of the Church of Rome, which is
to preside over all the Churches in charity. It is a journey of fraternity, of
love, of trust between us. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for
the world, so that a great brotherhood may be created. I hope that this journey
of the Church, which we begin today and in which my Cardinal Vicar who is
present here will assist me, will be fruitful for the Evangelization of this
beautiful city.
And now I would like to give you my
blessing. But before I do, I would like to ask you a favor: before the bishop
blesses the people, I ask you to pray to the Lord that He bless me…. the prayer
of the people for a blessing upon their bishop. Let us take a moment of silence
for you to offer your prayer for me.”
[Silence … the Holy Father bows]
[Cardinal N. says … “The Holy Father,
Francesco …”]
“Now I will give you my blessing and to the
whole world, to all men and women of good will.”
[Pope’s blessing]
Brothers and Sisters,
I leave you now. Thank you for your
welcome. Pray for me. And we’ll see one another again soon. Tomorrow I want to
go and pray to Our Lady, asking her to watch over Rome. Good night and have a
good rest.
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