Vivat Papa Americanus! Reflections from an American Seminarian in St. Peter’s Square

Vivat Papa Americanus!

I was away from Rome on Easter break when I received the news of Pope Francis’ passing, and I was shocked since he had given his blessing to the whole world just the day before in celebration of the resurrection of Our Lord. I immediately gathered with the seminarians I was traveling with and we prayed the Office of the Dead for the repose of his soul. Of course, our thoughts also went to the future of the Church: who would succeed him? And a more personal question: how would the coming weeks change our life at the North American College?

We returned to Rome shortly thereafter in order to pay our respects to the Holy Father as he lay in state in St. Peter’s basilica and to attend his funeral Mass. He was for us—as for the whole Church—a father, but I felt a closer connection to him since I am studying in Rome. I had the opportunity to see him many times in his public appearances and even once in a private audience for the seminary community. It was, therefore, a joy to pray for him during the time of mourning observed by the whole Church together with many inhabitants of Rome and pilgrims.

Naturally, the air was also filled with expectation and speculation about who the next pope would be. Names of cardinals whom I had never heard of before began to surface, though for me, guessing about what name the future pope would take was more enjoyable. In fact, I came across a fellow seminarian in our library scrolling through the list of previous Popes to see how long it had been since certain names had been used. Five names take you back 200 years, and seven names take you back 300. 

Such speculation was also accompanied by much prayer. We were eager to attend the Pro Eligendo Pontifice Mass--Latin meaning ”For the Election of a Pontiff” (a special Mass celebrated at the beginning of a papal conclave, just before the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope). Arriving early, I was able to sit with a small group along the aisle of the basilica. To see the faces of each cardinal as they processed in and out was a profound experience as I knew that one of them would come out as pope even though no one yet knew whom it would be. Yet all of them are men. Each face had been worn by many cares and had its own history. 

While the individuality of each cardinal is obvious on reflection, I was able to experience it over the past few weeks. The North American College where I live was built not only as a seminary, but also as the home in Rome for visiting American prelates. We had about ten American cardinals staying with us leading up to the conclave. It was not uncommon to encounter the cardinals as they returned from a day at the general congregation or on the way to a meal. I had the opportunity to meet Cardinal Gregory in our student lounge when he came in to purchase an ice cream bar! He lingered for a few moments and joked with us and some of his old seminarians from the Archdiocese of Washington D.C. Such encounters brought them to life in my mind and made it much easier to pray for them.

Despite their constant presence in the college, we did not share many meals with the cardinals. They took their meals in the “Red Room.” During the preparations for a conclave, this room provides them with a private space to converse amongst themselves. The red cloth door—referencing their rank as cardinals—guards their conversations from the always-open ears of seminarians and creates a bit of mystery.

As they departed Tuesday evening, we gathered to bid them farewell as a sign of our prayers as they began the conclave. For us too, decision time had also arrived: should we go to class or wait for the smoke? Thursday morning was the gamble and I was relieved when I heard that the black smoke had gone up during class. 

But we could not wait for that evening and arrived in St. Peter’s Square before 5:00pm. Even then there was already a large crowd waiting for the smoke. The international character of the crowd was an edifying expression of the unity of the universal church. I met a few monks from Austria who were studying in Rome, and there was a large group of Spanish speakers to my left who kept singing as we waited. Once satisfied with our place in the piazza, we prayed the Holy Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the sake of the election and the future Holy Father who—it turned out—was receiving the requisite votes at that very moment!

As we were being entertained by the seagulls on the roof near the chimney the first wisps of smoke leaked out. A moment of uncertainty later and it was white! The whole crowd erupted in cheers as the great bell on the South side of the facade began to toll announcing the good news: Habemus Papam! 

For the next hour or so, the whole crowd was filled with joy at the election of our new Holy Father even though we knew nothing of him except that he had been elected. The whole crowd was clapping or chanting “Viva il Papa” (long live the pope!). Later, when I was able to speak with family and friends in the US, I was struck by how far that enthusiasm carried. I was at the center of it but was being joined by so many who were just as intent on their screens as I was on the Loggia. 

When the pope’s name was announced, the others around me quickly informed me that he was an American cardinal who had spent much time working in the Vatican. I was stunned. An American Pope? It seemed impossible to me, but I am proud that the American Church should be honored by having one of her sons elected to the chair of St. Peter. We have gained this honor, and the universal Church has gained a father; for now he is the father of Rome and—through Rome—of all the Church, which he acknowledged by greeting his people in Italian. To hear his first words as pope and to receive his blessing in person were privileges indeed. 

The air of excitement still prevails as he begins his papacy with his first Regina Coeli address, his visits to the papal basilicas, his first public Mass, and his audiences. There is an air of joy about our whole community, which I noticed particularly in the cardinals during their press conference the Friday after the conclave. They spoke of their confidence in Pope Leo, which stems first from their trust in the Holy Spirit (from whom they sought and received the wisdom to vote), and second from their own knowledge and trust in the new pope’s faith, charity, and ability to govern with wisdom. 

This sense of joy continued when I listened to Pope Leo’s first Regina Coeli address and watched him as he spoke, smiling and waving with enthusiasm and energy. He has been given to us by God as His ambassador now. It is he who will pick up from Pope Francis, as also from his namesake Leo XIII, the cries against secular worldliness. He will bring to the struggle a fresh vigor, leading the Church and the world to Christ’s kingdom. 

This air of excitement will pass, but for now it buoys us up and carries us on. When it does fade, I pray that we will be left with a stronger faith and hope in Christ and a devoted love for His vicar, the new Pope Leo XIV..