On Wednesday, May 7th the Conclave to elect the 267th successor of Peter began. With the sealing of the Sistine Chapel door the work of the Cardinals began and the world waited in hope. At the end of the first day black smoke appeared signaling that there was no Pope elected. On Thursday, May 8th the white smoke appeared and the world waited for the announcement of the new Pope. The word came a little more than an hour after the smoke. I ran for the nearest television at work where I could watch it in real time. As I waited I experienced a number of emotions - hope, wonder, awe and excitement. When the announcement "Habemus Papam," my heart lept when I heard it was an American. I never expected an American to be named as the Pope.
When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost emerged I was struck by the sense of warmth and humility on his face. It appeared more than once he was overcome by emotion. It was nice to hear his brothers speak of their relationship with him. When his brother was asked if he was going to call his brother "Pope" he simply replied that he never called him "Father" as a priest and was not planning on changing that. You could hear the pride in his brothers and those who know him well.
As he begins his pontificate let us pray for him that he will remain true to his quest for justice and peace in our world. May he take the lead of his predecessor Francis and serve with a caring heart. May God bless Pope Leo XIV.