Habemus Papam!!!!!!

We have a pope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was so exciting to be in St Peter's Square to welcome our new Holy Father, Pope Francis! We had just been to Mass at the Centro San Lorenzo, and quickly joined the thousands of people in the Square to wait for the smoke from the Sistine Chapel. I had really expected that it would be black again, as it was in the morning. So, I was so surprised to see that it was white. At first there was just a little puff, and then it came out thick and strong. The atmosphere was amazing...the noise gradually increased as people started to understand what it meant and the cheering got louder and louder and louder.

 Holy smoke!!!

We tried to call friends who live in Rome to make sure that they could come straight to St Peter's, if they weren't already there. But the network was down...obviously everyone was doing the same thing. Crowds came rushing from every direction.

It was so exciting. The crowd was waiting, cheering, praying and singing in anticipation, under the steady rainfall : click here for a video

We waited almost one hour before the announcement was made from the loggia (balcony thing above the main entrance of the Basilica). Thankfully, the rain stopped just before the cardinal appeared and announced that we have a new pope : click here for a video

Then we waited a short while longer before Pope Francis appeared! It was so incredible. Initially, he looked a bit scared, but he warmed up pretty quickly. He was so humble and prayerful and joyful. He asked us all to join him in praying for Pope Emeritus Benedict. Then he asked us to pray for him. There was complete silence as we all prayed together. Then he gave us his apostolic blessing.  Yay!!  Kev and I both felt that we have a new spiritual father. It doesn't hurt that he looks a bit like a teddy bear. (Can I say that?)
Click here for a video

Pope Francis (you may need a magnifying glass)

Afterwards we tackled the crowd to get back to the ESM for a late dinner. Then our chaplain offered a Mass of thanksgiving. It was good to hear prayers for our Pope and Bishop again in the Mass.

We had been waiting for a couple of weeks for this moment, but I never imagined how special it would be. It  was such a buzz. We are so grateful that God blessed us with such a wonderful experience.

Viva il Papa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!