Throngs Gather, Tears Flow, and "Viva il Papa" Echoes - Tens of Thousands Flock to See the New Pope
Unbridled Excitement, Anticipation Build as a New Era Begins for the Catholic Church
Exuberance, weeping, and exclamations of "Viva il Papa" - Tens of thousands rejoice and honor the Pope's longevity. - Jubilant crowds, weeping individuals, and "Long live the Pope" chants - Tens of thousands pay tribute to the Pope
The air is thick with anticipation as tens of thousands of people on St. Peter's Square erupt in cheers and embrace, holding back a wave of uncontainable joy. They've been waiting since the crack of dawn, their anticipation heightened by the first two smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel—black on Wednesday evening and midday today. But the crowd's fervor and patience pay off, as they bear witness to the third and final smoke signal at 18:07. The once-inconspicuous chimney billows a thick white cloud, plunging the gathering into a brief moment of confusion before the cheers echo across the square. The smoke is indeed white, and the Catholic Church has a new leader.
Every corner of St. Peter's Square, beneath the warm afternoon sun, has become a melting pot of eager faces, united in their shared exhilaration. As the smoke rises, the curiosity of the crowd swells—speculating about the churchman who will lead the Catholic Church with more than 1.4 billion members. Yet, they are yet to know his name.
Amidst the vague wait for an announcement, whispers fly through the crowd, trying to divine the name that would soon emerge from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
Finally, after about an hour, the crowd's anticipation culminates into a collectiverelease as Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti steps onto the balcony, announcing, "Habemus Papam" (We have a Pope). The announcement triggers a storm of applause, which only intensifies when he reveals the new Pontiff's identity: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the 69-year-old American who will take the name Leo XIV.
The cheers, exuberance, and emotion are palpable as people wave flags, jump up and down like children, sing, and share their joy over the phone with loved ones, regardless of their language. Some scan their phones to find out who the new church leader is, while others excitedly share their suspicion that the new Pope might be French due to the name Prevost.
However, it's the man from the United States, who until this moment had led the Vatican's office of bishops, that it is. The Pope's speech from the balcony is met with a chorus of "Viva il Papa!" as people from various countries wave their national flags. Particularly amongst the Spanish-speaking, applause erupts as Leo XIV greets his community in Peru in their native language.
With Prevost, the Catholic Church welcomes its first Pope from the United States in two millennia of church history. Before becoming a cardinal of the curia, he was a missionary and bishop in Peru and served as general prior of the Augustinian order. His papacy is widely regarded as a beacon of hope, marking a new era for dialogue, peace, and integration within the Catholic Church amidst the challenges of modern times.
Rome greets its new bishop, Pope Leo XIV, with warmth and emotion, and the mayor of the city, Roberto Gualtieri, extols his forthcoming pontificate as one that will endeavor to tackle the challenges of the time with courage and foresight.
The European Parliament, following this historic moment, has also expressed its concern at the situation in the Middle East, hoping for peace and stability under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV. Meanwhile, as the new Pope settles into his residence in the Vatican, one can only imagine the changes this American-born Pontiff might bring to the lifestyle and home-and-garden choices of his new home.
