Habemus Papam!

Waiting in the square

Pope Francis

Habemus Papam!  I just returned from St. Peter's square where I was blessed to witness our new Pope Francis address the Church for the first time!  I went there this afternoon after returning from our spring break trip to Poland in order to be in the square to see if the new pope would be elected on the first of the two afternoon ballots.  He was not, so I left to go to Mass nearby.  As I walked out of Mass at the end the bells of St. Peter's started to ring, and a lady on the steps said, "Habemus Papam," so I took off running to make it to the square.  I was so excited that I ran right down the middle of the road, and jumped over a barrier to make it past the security guards.  But it was worth it, because not only did I see the white smoke, but I got a spot right in the front middle.  So I was there when they made the official announcement of Habemus Papam!  I watched as all of the cardinals gathered on the balcony of St. Peter's, while the Vatican band played...and then the curtain opened and Pope Francis I (formerly Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina) came out to address the crowds.  He looked shocked, but delivered a beautiful address in which he joked about his being from the end of the world, prayed with the crowds, imparted his first papal blessing, and wished everyone a good night and good rest.  If you want to read the text of his address it is at http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-his-first-words.  It was a beautiful and amazing experience that I will never forget!  Our group celebrated with gelato, but even sweeter than the gelato was the joy and blessing of being in the square for such a historic moment!  May God bless Pope Francis I and the entire Church!