The first day of the conclave, May 7, many seminarians studying in Rome opted to watch the smoke from the roof of our seminary, the Pontifical North American College, rather than from St. Peter’s Square. We suspected the smoke would be black.
It turned into an all-night affair, with the smoke expected around 7:45 or 8 p.m. and not coming out until 9 p.m. Due to the late hour, the darkness of the sky did not highlight the black smoke well from the angle we were watching.
I woke up the next morning on May 8 and things felt different. It felt like a good day. I went to class and then to the Square for the expected noon smoke.
There weren’t many people in the Square, but it was neat to experience a much-anticipated event with no countdown, no buildup and everyone simply fixated on a chimney.
At 11:51 a.m., smoke came out and there was light clapping. The smoke was black, but observers were excited to see smoke without another hourlong delay.
After pranzo (lunch) and riposo (nap), I returned to the Square around 4:45 p.m. Now there was a certain feeling in the air. Waiting in the security line, there seemed to be a level of excitement looming around us.
Twice as many people were in the Square than there were at noon. The last two pontiffs, Popes Benedict XVI and Francis, were elected during this smoke signal.
My friends and I prayed Evening Prayer, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, in the Square. A nearby group prayed the rosary. Some priests from our diocese joined us. I practiced taking pictures of various objects and people around the Square in anticipation of an announcement.
People started clapping. Did we have smoke? No, this time it was because seagulls had brought a baby chick next to the chimney. We did not have smoke yet.
Clapping erupted through the Square minutes later. Cheering. More clapping. Shouts of “Habemus Papam (We have a pope)!” The smoke was white. The College of Cardinals had chosen a pope.
Everyone immediately looked at their watches. We knew we would have to wait nearly an hour for the announcement. It was 6:08 p.m.
After the initial excitement of the smoke died down, we began discussion. Who could be elected pope so quickly? It must be someone good, we suspected, because he needed two-thirds of the cardinals’ votes, which is a supermajority.
We grew more anxious as the hour mark hit. We asked questions, such as, what will the new pope wear?
French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti walked out. We found out he was not elected pope.
“Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum (we announce with great joy),” he said. The people cheered again, “Habemus papam!” Cardinal Mamberti continued, “Eminentissium ac Reverendissimum Dominum (the Most Eminent and Reverend Lord) – this is taking ages, it seemed – “Dominum Robert Franciscum (Lord Robert Francis).” Someone yelled, “Prevost! An American!”
We all cheered and hardly heard the rest of the announcement, which ended “Leonem XIV (Leo XIV).” What a great name!
We started chanting, “USA!” Time continued to pass slowly as we waited to see Pope Leo XIV walk out on the loggia (lodge).
After what seemed the longest few minutes of my life, we saw him, donning the red mozzetta, a short cape-shaped garment worn by high-ranking ecclesiastics. He was overwhelmed with emotion, waving to the people.
He looked like a pope. The white and red suit him well – a younger pope, a human pope, an American Pope!
He greeted us with the words, “Peace be with you” – the same words spoken by Jesus when He greeted the disciples after the Resurrection.
He continued his first speech, ending by invoking Our Lady of Pompeii, whose feast is May 8 – the day of the Holy Father’s election – a Marian pope, a lovely pope, an American Pope!
We knelt to receive his first blessing Urbi et Orbi (To the city and to the world). We continued to cheer as he waved goodbye, but the festivities did not end.
We went back to the seminary – even the porter was celebrating – for a much delayed dinner. Every Thursday, we happen to eat American food for dinner. Nothing like celebrating Pope Leo XIV, Papa Americano, by eating a cheeseburger and fries!
Our rector walked in to a standing ovation and told us, “Gentlemen, your lives are about to change.”
Then-Cardinal Prevost had celebrated Mass for Thanksgiving Day at the Pontifical North American College last November. Someone grabbed an American flag and started waving it as we continued to celebrate into the night. We moved to our lounge, where we started to sing American songs, eat snacks, drink beer and converse with one another.
We have a Pope – an American Pope.
Christopher Dixon is a diocesan seminarian studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
