Rolando Delagoza writes from Rome….Believe it or not but hundreds of Vincentian Family members (Daughters of Charity, Vincentians, AIC, SSVP, Marian Youth, etc.) joined the hundreds of thousands of people at the Piazza San Pietro to witness the “Habemus Papam” (We have a Pope) at around 6:45 p.m. on April 19.
They saw the white smoke, heard the bells of St. Peter’s, and they run, took the bus and fought it out with thousands of pilgrims converging at St. Peter’s Square to hear the announcement of the election of the New Holy Father in the person of Benedict XVI.
Almost all the Vincentians, then present at the Curia, were at St. Peter’s Square. After hearing of the white smoke, they left all their important and not so important activities and rushed to St. Peter’s only to find out that there were already thousands waiting in anxious hope. On the way they heard the honking of horns, ringing of bells, nuns and laymen running towards St. Peter’s. It was an event worthy of a soccer match.
While the white smoke lasted for only a few minutes, the bells continued ringing as in no other time during the year. Previously it was only the white smoke that signaled the election but this time it was decreed that the bells should also be rung. At around 6:45 p.m. Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez of Chile announced ”Habemus Papam,” mentioned the name Josef and, after a short hesitation, he added “Cardinal Ratizinger.” There was an applause from the crowd as the Pope appeared on the center balcony with the other Cardinals in their red chasubles on the other balconies of St.Peter’s. The Holy Father spoke in fluent Italian, mentioned Pope John Paul II at the very first sentence and got the loudest applause of the occasion. His short message ended with a request for prayers and the intercession of the Blessed Mother. He then gave a blessing in Latin, smiled, raised his hands in welcome several times and was gone.
As there were so many people trying to go home we followed the tidal wave of persons towards the street, eavesdropped on the comments of the people in several languages and found out that most of the opinions were favorable and full of hope. We arrived home happy that we have seen one of the unique, privileged and significant events in the history of the Church and whispered a little prayer for Benedict XVI. “Viva il Papa!”
