Wednesday, May 7, according to information from Vatican News, Some 45,000 people gathered in and around St. Peter's Square in the late afternoon to await the first “fumata” (smoke). The black smoke that appeared at 9 p.m., Rome time, announced that the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel had not elected St. Peter's successor. It was a wait that tested the patience of some people because the result of the first vocation was expected at 7:00 p.m. and it was two hours later that the fireplace announced with black smoke that there was still no pope.
The Regnum Christi was present from the morning participating in the mass «pro choosing Roman pontifice» (for the election of the Roman Pontiff) chaired by the Card. Giovani Battista Re who, in his homily, invited all attendees to «to invoke the help of the Holy Spirit, to implore his light and strength, so that the Pope that the Church and humanity need at this difficult and complex moment in history may be elected.». In the afternoon, while the cardinals were taking the first vote, we joined in praying the Rosary from St. Peter's Square to commend the conclave to the Blessed Virgin.
For Paula Martí, a laywoman from the Regnum Christi de He asked that «the Holy Spirit enlighten the cardinals in such a great moment as the election of a new pontiff. Because this is the moment for accompany them».
Cristian Nazer Astorga, consecrated layperson originally from Chile, He commented that for him it was a great moment to join the whole Church in praying for the new Pope. «We don't know who es, But one of those cardinals that we saw passing by in the procession during the Mass is the man who tomorrow or the day after tomorrow will appear on the balcony to greet us all». Cristian recalled that in his homily the Card. Re mentioned that, in the last 100 years, the Church has given us holy Popes, so he also hopes that the cardinals «will give us another holy Pope because the challenges of the world are many and the future Pope will have to guide the Church along this path».
For his part, Br. Santiago, legionary of Christ of Mexican origin, shared his experience of the Mass that he sought to live with great awareness of the special moment he was living. He also mentioned that he asked God for a Pope who invites us to prayer, willing to listen to the Holy Spirit and, above all, to be a father for the whole Church. «A father full of prayer».
Marcela de Maria and Campos, consecrated, who was in St. Peter's Square for almost five hours, commented that «these were moments of living the Jubilee of Hope, waiting for the new Pope». She commented her wish that the Pope will be elected in the morning voting on Thursday, May 8, «but it is my hypothesis».
For Daniela, a laywoman from the Regnum Christi of Central America, waiting for the first “fumata” «has been a very strong experience of connecting with so many people of the Church waiting for the new Pope».
At the end of the first day you could see a mixture of joy and tiredness, there were groups singing before an illuminated St. Peter's Basilica at night. and others who preferred to leave to return the next day and remain in expectation of what the Holy Spirit has in store for His Church. In both cases, the universality of the Church was evident: people from many countries, speaking different languages, the diversity of vocations, and the diversity of the Church's missionaries. and all united in waiting for the new Pope.
On Thursday, May 9, the two morning ballots showed black smoke., but it was in the afternoon that el long-awaited white smoke came out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.. The atmosphere in St. Peter's Square was euphoric and little by little people began to arrive to meet the new Pope. According to Vatican News, more than 40 thousand people gathered in St. Peter's and the surrounding area. After 7:00 p.m., Card. Dominique Mamberti came out to the central balcony for the traditional and long-awaited Hamebus Papam!
He then announced the name of the chosen one. It was Card. Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., who decided to call himself Leo XIV.
In his first words, Pope Leo XVI invited those present to receive the peace of Christ: Peace be with you! This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed peace and a disarming, humble and persevering peace that comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally».
The joy of those present was evident. «It is a great illusion to be in this historic moment together with the whole Church,» commented a seminarian in St. Peter's Square. Renée Pomarico, a consecrated woman, expressed that «it is an immense grace to live all this with the whole Church and to pray for our Vicar of Christ on earth».
