White Smoke! Awaiting Announcement of New Pope

7:30 p.m., Italy ~

Our six children and I are riveted to the television.  My four year old is on the couch, sucking her thumb, singing, "We have a new Pope!"

The image we watch is dim and damp.  An immense mass of umbrellas and hopeful followers fill St. Peter's Square.  They will tell their grandchildren about this day as being the most momentous day of thier lives.  Bright lights surround the crowd.  The backdrop of Rome is architectural beauty, pious and divine like our Catholic church.  Benjamin, my twelve year old, asks, "Can he change the laws of Church?"

"He leads the Church like St. Peter.  He doesn't have to change the Church because it's Jesus' Church.  He just has to be sure we follow Jesus' Church." my oldest daughter explains.

Joyful suspense.

The world is united with Catholics, the followers in St. Peter's square are awesome.

7:33 p.m. In Italy ~

The band arrives in rain.  The color guard follows wearing raincoats over their stripes.

Will our Pope be young, like St. Gregory?  Italian?  This is no longer an Italian event.  Pope John Paul II brought Rome,  and the Catholic Church, into the world's eyes.  

The wait continues.  Moments ago our new Pope was in the Room of Tears and now collects himself,
 before he steps out as Vicar of Christ.

Ryan, our nine year old has "Come to love and know Pope Benedict."  He says he will miss him.

The crowd's noise is deafening and then quiet.  Deafening, then quiet.  It is a sea of people that move like waves in an ocean.  Praying and overcome with emotion.

I wonder, out loud, why the media keeps telling us that the new Pope must change the problems of the Catholic Church.  They lament about the Church catching up to the modern world.  Because people follow and lead the Church, we are not infallible.  But, why must the Church make all the changes?  Should not the world change its ways?  Are we not becoming a Godless world?  Perhaps our new Holy Father will lead our Church to a new evangelism that tells the world that The Church is Jesus' Church. We will be part of the modern world, but we will not waiver in His teachings.

8:12 p.m. ~ The white curtain above the square opens.  "Habemus Papam!  We have a new Pope!"


"The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord
Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, SJ
who assumes for himself the name
Francis."  EWTN.

Cardinal Bergoglio, an Argentine Jesuit, son of an Italian immigrant, steps onto the balcony where an Argentine flag now hangs

An overwhelming roar ascends to His Holiness.  The Latin Catholics, such a grand Catholic flock,  must feel enormous pride.  Their Cardinal is now Pope Francis.
My four year old American Catholic is bouncing and singing, "I love my Pope!" 

The Argentine National Anthem resonates in the piazza.  The crowd noise is a joyous hum.  He is said to be humble, wearing the simple white cossack and modest cross.

He begins, "Good Evening.  As you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome, and it seems to me that my brother cardinals have chosen who is from far away. Here I am.

I would like to thank you for your embrace, also to the Roman Catholic Church and the bishops, thank you very much. And first and foremost, I would like to pray for our bishop emeritus, Benedict XVI

Let us pray together for him so that he is blessed by the Lord.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come,

Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary,

Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.

Amen.

Glory be to the Father, the Son, 

and the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning,

is now and every shall be, 

world without end.

Amen.

Let us begin this journey together... this journey for the Roman Catholic Church. It is a journey of friendship, of love, of trust, and faith. Let us pray always for one another. Let us pray for the whole world. Let us have a big brotherhood.

I wish that this journey for the Church, which we will start today... will bear fruits for the evangelizing of this beautiful city.

I would like to offer you my blessing. But I would like to ask a favor first. I would like to pray to the Lord so that the prayer of the people blesses also the new pontiff. Let us pray in silence your prayer for me. . . ."

The silence is the most beautiful quiet our world has ever experienced.  Every Catholic child in the world knew the prayers he prayed.  He chose humble, simple prayers.  Is that the Pope he will be?  Did we just kneel and pray with the Pope?  With the world?

The bells peal and the crowd departs as our new Pope wishes them a good sleep, just as a Father wishes for his children. God has given the world a gift.