(Death, Heaven, Purgatory, Hell)
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
|
|
"Habemus Papam!" Electrified the City
By Elizabeth Lev
ROME, APRIL 21, 2005 (Zenit.org).-
After a roller-coaster ride of emotions and events, Rome regained her
equilibrium by Wednesday. The morning after the election of Pope Benedict XVI,
the facade of St. Peter's Basilica was bathed in golden sunlight after weeks of
clouds and rain.
I went down to the tomb of John Paul II that morning, and near the grave of St.
Peter, a single beam of sunlight was pouring in. It reinforced the idea that the
See of St. Peter had a new occupant to illuminate the way for the faithful.
Coming back out into the square, the sound of singing resounded in the
colonnade. The giant monitors were broadcasting the new Pope's first Mass in the
Sistine Chapel. Romans and foreigners en route to work, tours or school stopped
to watch. The square was filled with peaceful smiles, while in the city people
were noticeably friendlier on the bus and in the streets.
The source of this buoyancy was clear to all. "Habemus papam!" were typical
words of greeting throughout the city (even among non-Catholics), often
accompanied by a joyful embrace.
After the sadness of John Paul II's death, the shock of 3 million people
descending on Rome and the apprehension about the conclave, the city was ready
for a rest.
It didn't come easy. Confusion about the color of the smoke, and quarter-hour
bells seeming to confirm the unconfirmable, brought rushes of excitement
followed by disappointment. And so Rome had been sitting on the edge of its
seat.
Several colleagues, atheists at that, crossed town to be in the square for each
of the "fumate." On Tuesday morning, one asked me to call if there was white
smoke so he could cancel class and come to the square. The workings of the Holy
Spirit were becoming an irresistible magnet.
Then on the afternoon of April 19 the crowds were gathering in the piazza. The
evening before we had had to wait until almost 8 p.m. so people were taking
their time arriving in the square.
Yet a little before 6 p.m. smoke began to emerge from the chimney. It appeared
white, or at least lighter than usual, yet there were no bells as promised to
announce a new pope.
Most of the crowd began to cheer then roar, while many kept looking, puzzled at
the bells. Was there a pope? The smoke continued -- surely white? -- until the
din of the people was finally drowned out by the clanging of the bells. We had a
pope!
The entire city leaped into action. Suddenly people poured into the streets.
Stores were closed and all the roads were filled with people sprinting, in
skirts, suits or cassocks, toward St. Peter's Square.
Some Romans, frustrated by the traffic in the tiny streets off the square,
simply abandoned their cars in the road and hurried toward the piazza. The
people on foot, undeterred by the parked vehicles blocking their path, just
clambered over the hoods and trunks to get to St. Peter's on time. It was well
worth the effort.
As Pope Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, stepped out on the
balcony of St. Peter's and stood under the statue of Jesus which crowns the
facade, they saw that the Church had a new Vicar of Christ, Rome had a new
bishop and Catholics everywhere had a new father.