The death this morning of Pope Emeritus Benedict prompted a flood of memories for me. On the bucket list of this liturgist was to be in the Piazza San Pietro for the election of a Pope. While a student priest in Belgium in the late 70’s, I was fortunate to attend the inaugural liturgy marking the beginning of the pontificate of a relatively young John Paul II, having missed the election.
I was pastor of Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano when Pope John Paul II died in April, 2005. The wheels of my mind began to turn realizing that this would probably be my only chance to fulfill a dream and be present for the election of a Pope. Amazingly and, I’d like to think, providentially, I called Delta Airlines hoping that I could use miles to book a flight to Rome after calculating when the Conclave of Election would begin. Miraculously, a flight was available! I then booked a room in one of my favorite hotels near the Pantheon, Grand Hotel Minerva, for one week – all of this hoping that the Conclave of Election would not last too long so that I could be there for the inaugural mass of the new Pope.
I remember distinctly at the International Terminal at LAX prior to my flight, seeing the TV monitors and the Cardinal electors processing into the Sistine Chapel to begin election of the successor to John Paul II.
Landing in Rome some 12 hours later, I made my way to the hotel and immediately walked to St. Peter’s Square to witness the smoke from the third ballot of the Cardinals. Gathering with tens of thousands in the square, the smoke was visibly black, no Pope elected.
I ran into a group of priest friends from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles who invited me to join them for lunch. The excitement in the air was palpable. After lunch, I returned to the hotel to try to get a bit of rest before returning to the square for the results of the 4th ballot in the late afternoon. Too excited to rest, I decided to return to the piazza a bit early. As I was walking down the Via della Conciliazione, the main thoroughfare leading to St. Peter’s, I could see folks running, some leaving their cars on the side of the road, and I realized something was about to happen.
Tiered banks of media, the likes of which, I had never seen, circled the Piazza. Quickly, the crowds grew to over a hundred thousand. And then, we saw the white smoke coming from the small ancient chimney above the Sistine Chapel. The crowds roared with excited anticipation. The great bells of the Basilica began to ring out in jubilation.
It was a bit of time between the white smoke and the eventual pulling back of the red curtains on the loggia window overlooking the square. Finally, the Dean of the College of Cardinals emerged and proclaimed the ancient formula: Anuncio vobis, Gaudium magnum, habemus papam! “I announce to you, great joy, we have a Pope!” The declaration went on in Latin, yet when he spoke the word, Josephum, it was clear before he got to the last name, Ratzinger, who was elected. The crowds erupted in wild excitement and jubilation.
A few moments later, the new Pope, Benedict XVI, appeared to impart his first words and blessing to the city and the world. The crowds, now filling the piazza were delirious with excitement and joy.
Timing was on my side, and I was able to be present for Benedict’s inaugural mass in all its papal splendor. It was a week that I will never forget.
Rest in Peace, faithful servant of the servants of God.