New pope elected

Editor’s note: Two of the diocesan seminarians studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome offered their insight into the selection of the new pope.
 
When the conclave began, most of us in Rome were prepared to be in it for the long haul. Having 133 cardinals from around the world meant that there were many different cultural milieus and backgrounds that had to be ironed out before a successor of Peter could be elected. The media coverage, too, bounced around from one cardinal to another as to who might be the next pontiff. All signs were pointing to a long road ahead, yet God reminded us, very quickly, that He finds joy in surprising us. 
 
After black smoke on the first evening and second morning of the conclave, many seminarians and faithful went down to St. Peter’s Square expecting to see smoke at the end of the second round of voting of that day. Even though the previous two ballots had not elected a pope, being in the square to see the black smoke was riveting. All the people from around the world, waiting to see smoke from a chimney. The excitement that would be expressed at black smoke was magnetic, the anticipation for white smoke to come was, at the least, intoxicating to think about. 

That afternoon of the second day of voting, at a round 6 p.m., the cameras showed a pair of seagulls sitting next to the chimney. All of a sudden, the crowd started cheering. We turned to look, thinking maybe there could be white smoke. When we looked, we saw a baby seagull that the entire crowd was aweing over. Being somewhat disappointed, many continued their conversations or praying their rosaries as before the interruption. 
 
But then, the crowd erupted again. We looked up and smoke started streaming from the chimney. In the first few seconds, the smoke is somewhat grey before the coloring comes in. The entire crowd held their breath as we waited for the coloring to be put into the flames. Then, it was white. “IT’S WHITE, IT’S WHITE SMOKE” was said repeatedly to one another. A true sense of amazement and surprise overcame us. Then, we realized that we have a pope! We are no longer sheep without a shepherd. Analogously to Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has come down behind closed doors and rested upon this man, sending him forth to lead all of us who awaited to receive him in the square. 
 
Now, the wait was on. People started streaming into the square left and right as white smoke continued to billow from the chimney. Then, the questions came to all of us: Who could it be? Who is our father? Would he be holy? Would he be a true shepherd to God’s people? 
 
For the next hour, we hypothesized and guessed as to the identity of this man. After what felt like an eternity, we finally saw the drapes of the central window ruffle. The doors opened to a crowd ready to burst at the seams. Cardinal Mamberti emerged on the loggia and said the words we had been yearning to hear since April 21. 
 
At his words, “Annuntio Vobis Gaudiam Magnum…” the crowd exploded with cheers, unable to contain their joy. He followed with, “Habemus Papam!” The crowd erupted in cheers, ecstatic over this great news… we have a pope! 
 
Then, he said his name—Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, who takes the name Leo XIV. We looked one to another in disbelief: He’s an American! None of us could have possibly guessed that he would be elected pope. Our joy which we thought had peaked at simply having a pope, now skyrocketed as we waited to see our Holy Father.
 
Then, the doors opened to the loggia and Pope Leo XIV stepped into our sight. The crowd erupted again, with cries of affection and tears of joy. For four minutes, His Holiness stood there simply looking at his flock as we awaited the Italian bands to finish their songs. With each wave and gesture, the crowd erupted in more cheers of joy. The cameras cut to a sideview of the pope, and we could see that the eyes of the Pope were filled with tears of love and joy for the flock entrusted to him. His love for us seemed to radiate from his very gaze upon us. 
 
Then he spoke, “Peace be with you all!” As the Risen Lord spoke these words and breathed the Holy Spirit upon His disciples, so too these words revived and consoled our weary hearts. As His Holiness continued to speak, he was met with cheer after cheer. The way that he stood there as a father, he appeared both as a rock upon which the weight of the Church rested upon, but also as a father who delighted immensely in seeing his children. 
 
He ended his address with the Urbi et Orbi blessing, a blessing for the city and for the entire world, and in those words of blessing, we could feel the warmth and love with which a father cares for and bestows gifts upon his children. Then, the crowd erupted in cheers again as they beheld their Holy Father one more time before he went back into St. Peter’s Basilica. 
 
As we returned to the seminary, we met each other full of joy, hugging one another and expressing our excitement that we all were experiencing. How privileged we felt to not only have the first-ever American pope, but even more that we had a father who loved us and was a pastor for the whole Church. His words and presence had already seemed to cultivate a new season in each of our hearts that was full of gratitude to Almighty God. How blessed we are to be given a man who conveyed to us the heart of God the Father. In his gaze, we were able to receive a glimpse of the love with which God looks upon us. This joy and gratitude were so overflowing that we spent the rest of the night telling each other how moved we were by being there to receive our new pope. 
 
Our hope and gratitude continue as the papacy of Pope Leo XIV unfolds, and we pray that God might continue to lead our Holy Father in his ministry to the Church and to the whole world.