Habemus Papam
"We have a Pope."
I found the images of all the people at the Vatican waiting for the plume of white smoke to be so fascinating. People who aren't even Catholic have been talking about the conclave. When my son was in 3rd grade, he attended St. Mary's Catholic School in Metamora, and his school learned about conclaves by holding a mock conclave. They had students from different grades act as the different people involved. The 8th graders were too old to be a voting member of the Cardinals. Peyton was the Swiss Guard standing at attention outside the doors of the Sistine Chapel while the Cardinals determined who would be the next Pope. This reenactment helped the students see some of the elements of what occurred during a real conclave, on a much smaller scale of course, while history was being made. This most recent conclave brought all the same excitement and wonder.
This picture was in the Catholic Post in 2013 - Peyton Cheek, Swiss Guard
Since Pope Francis' death, there has been much speculation on who the next Pope might be. I have been reading many articles about the top Cardinals that could gain the votes of his peers. And then it was announced. Father Robert Prevost was chosen to be our next pope.
I was moved by the grace and emotion Pope Leo XIV showed. To look out over the thousands of people cheering for his holiness had to be overwhelming. He is a man who chose to devote his life to God and the Catholic Church. He was selected by his peers to lead the 1.4 billion Catholics all over the world. WOW!!
As we often pray for our Church leaders, I would say Pope Leo XIV will need as much prayer as we can give him. A friend sent this message today by an unknown author - it read in part, "...This man will carry the full weight of Peter's office. He will grow tired. He will suffer silently... He will recount his frailties. He can list every reason why he feels unworthy. But God will give him mercy..."
A Prayer for the Pope:
Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd a spirit of courage and right judgement, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all of the world. Amen.
Habemus Papam!