Monastery Excitement - Habemus Papam!
The sound of the obedience bell brought all the sisters running to the tv room where we kept our eyes glued to EWTN's coverage of the Papal conclave. We waited for an hour for those doors to open onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, listening to the commentators AND adding our own...watching the white smoke, hearing the bells and we added the ringing of our own monastery bells.
Sister rings the obedience bell. This is a rush of bells pealed repeatedly to let the sisters know there is urgent news of some sort and to gather near the crucifix.
Then out came the Cardinal Protodeacon to announce Habemus Papam - Jorge Borgoglio - in Italian - WHO? Franciscum! Wow, this man is taking a new name...many prayers were offered as we waited on the edge of our seats for him to emerge from behind the red curtain.
Great excitement over white smoke!
Pope Francis! At first he just stood there, taking it all in, waiting for the microphone...those were long minutes. Then he spoke from his heart, prayed the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be in Italian (morphing into Spanish?) and before he gave the Papal blessing he asked us to pray God's blessing upon him and made a profound bow. He then asked for the microphone again and ended his comments by hoping everyone has a good night and good rest!
Veni Sancte Spiritus! Guide Pope Francis!
Apologies for so many exclamation points...we, with the whole Church, are wee bit excited. :)