Habemus Papam

Thursday was going to be a busy one.  Got up early to chauffeur my wife to the hospital for a routine medical procedure. Drove an hour each way through thunderstorms hoping to get home in time to take an early lunch.  I needed to get an early start on some afternoon errands to get back for a two o’clock commitment to move donated furniture from a house to our Saint Vincent DePaul storage building.  Everything was going according to plan.  We got home from the hospital earlier than expected and even had time to turn on the television before going out for lunch.

As we were about the leave for lunch, a news bulletin popped up.  White smoke was scene at the Sistine Chapel.  A new Pope has been selected.   Bells were ringing, crowds of people at the Vatican were cheering and it was all being covered on live television.  I have been alive for the selection of five popes, but I have never had the opportunity to watch the announcement on live tv.  The anticipation was exciting, but some of my errands had to be done today and before my two o'clock appointment.  My wife and I anxiously awaited the appearance of the new Pope, at the same time watching the clock.  

We waited as long as we could and then my wife said we have to go.  I found a radio station that was covering the conclave so we could listen in the car.  As no announcement seemed eminent, they went on to other topics.  We decided to stop for lunch at a nearby restaurant.  My wife laid her cell phone on the table while we waited for our food.  Suddenly, she gasped!  It’s an American from Chicago!  My eyes widened.  All I could think of was CUPICH?  No.  She showed me her phone.  Robert Prevost.  I had never heard of him.  Pope Leo XIV.

At sixty-nine years old, Pope Leo is younger than I am.  Chances are I may never get to watch a new pope introduced for the first time live, and that’s okay.  Now we will be subjected to all of the speculation about what kind of Pope he will be.  He will be praised and criticized depending on perspective of the commentator.  Let us trust in the Holy Spirit and allow Pope Leo to lead us as God sees fit.  

Day 2 thoughts:         (edit)

Will having a Pope from Chicago make him seem a little more human and therefore somewhat less authoritative to us Americans?  Within a couple hours of his introduction, we learned he is a White Sox fan, plays Wordle, and likes cars.  He seems just like one of us, but is that a good thing?  Yes, he is human, but he isn’t just like one of us.  He is the Pope, the Vicar of Christ, the Supreme Pontiff, the Bishop of Rome, the Holy Father, the Successor of Saint Peter.  I am wondering if American Catholics will view him differently than any previous Pope when it comes to respecting his authority.

I just saw a very awkward moment on television when one of his brothers returned a call to the Pope in the presence of local news media with cameras rolling.  The Pope answered and went silent when his brother told him he was being recorded live.  It is obvious that his own family has been caught off guard by all of the attention.