VATICAN CITY — The appearance of white smoke at 6:08 p.m. Thursday from the makeshift chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, followed by the tolling of church bells — signaling that a successor to Pope Francis had been chosen — first drew audible gasps, then loud and enthusiastic cheers from the tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square to witness a historic moment for the worldwide Catholic Church.
Colorful flags of an array of countries waved in the crowd, as it seemed all the rest of Rome then began gravitating to the Via Della Conciliazione to be as close as possible to an already full St. Peter’s Square to witness who had been chosen.
While the world waited for the official pronouncement, a band of drummers played as members of the colorfully clad Swiss Guards walked in formation to the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica.
At 7:13 p.m., Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti emerged from behind the red drapes of the central loggia, proclaiming the words that all had traveled from near and far to hear:
“I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope. The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord Robert Francis Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Prevost who has taken the name Leo XIV.”
Ten minutes later, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, stepped forth onto that same loggia to thundering cheers and applause, dressed in traditional papal red mozzetta and white cassock.
“Peace be with all of you!” Pope Leo XIV said in his first words as the 267th bishop of Rome.
In his address, the pontiff greeted the faithful and the world while invoking peace and pledging to work for a united Church faithful to Jesus and to the Gospel.
“It is the peace of the risen Christ,” he said in Italian. “A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally.”
The pope said that the “faint yet ever courageous voice” of Pope Francis as he blessed Rome and extended his blessing to the whole world on Easter morning could still be heard.
“Allow me to extend that same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! All of us are in God’s hands. So, let us move forward, without fear, together, hand in hand with God and with one another other!” he exclaimed.
“We are followers of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs him as the bridge that can lead us to God and his love. Help us, one and all, to build bridges through dialogue and encounter, joining together as one people, always at peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!”
Pope Leo XIV also thanked his brother Cardinals, who chose him to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with them as a Church, as missionaries.
“I am an Augustinian, a son of Saint Augustine, who once said, ‘With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.’ In this sense, all of us can journey together toward the homeland that God has prepared for us,” he said.
He then led the crowd in praying a Hail Mary and offered an Urbi et Orbi blessing.
Many were fascinated at the election of an American pope and scrambled to learn more about the cardinal who was among the papabile — but not mentioned regularly among the prelates most likely to succeed Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday. But slow to non-existent internet service in the Square due to high demand thwarted many in their quest for details.
Among those present with a personal perspective on Pope Leo XIV was Father Christopher J. Murphy, the former rector of Our Lady of Providence Seminary who now serves as a spiritual director at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
“I recognized the name right away,” Father Murphy told Rhode Island Catholic. “He presided Mass here at the North American College on Thanksgiving.”
“What I remember is just a very prayerful, calm, steady presence as a presider of Mass, and for us as Catholics, there’s nothing more important.”
Father Murphy left the college at 5:45 p.m., making the seven-minute walk down to St. Peter’s Square just in time to take up a strategic position at the end of the colonnade that would allow him to view the expected black or white smoke from the Sistine Chapel, the loggia if a pope was elected, and a large monitor to see closer details.
He said that on this feast day of Our Lady of Pompeii he was listening very intently to Pope Leo XIV’s message.
“There was definitely an emphasis on peace,” he said.
The day before, Father Murphy had gathered in the Square with a group of priests and seminarians, including those with Providence ties, to unveil a Rhode Island flag for a photo.
“This a tremendous privilege, blessing and honor and I’m overwhelmed,” he said. “To actually see this in person is nothing short of remarkable. That not only would the successor to Pope Francis come from the ranks of American cardinals, but also that he would be elected with such speed.”
Vanessa Jones and her husband Brian were part of a 50-strong group of faithful who were on a pre-planned pilgrimage trip to Rome from St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Parish in Surprise, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix.
“We planned this pilgrimage about nine months ago, and we were not expecting Pope Francis to pass,” said Jones, who was able to stake out a good viewing position for the possible announcement of a successor at the Bernini fountain on the left side of St. Peter’s Square.
Jones and the members of the parish group were able to pay their respects to Pope Francis at the public viewing and had only one night left in Rome before they were scheduled to return to Arizona.
“It’s a blessing that we are able to be here today,” Jones said of the timing of the election of Pope Leo XIV.
“I feel very blessed, all thanks to God.”
Brian Jones said that he felt equally blessed to be there on that day.
“It’s absolutely historic,” he said. “It’s a pretty pivotal moment in the Church.”
Mary Oliver described the timing of their trip as “miraculous,” in allowing the St. Clare group to be part of that history.
Her son, Duncan Oliver, soon-to-be 12, held a small toy figurine in the image of a pope in his hand during the announcement of a new pontiff. He said that he had earlier touched it to the side of Pope St. John Paul II’s tomb inside St. Peter’s Basilica.
“I’m going to remember this day forever,” he said.
Megan Dell and colleague Mikey Bribchik, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have been in Rome for the historic events for more than a week. They were already on scene working with a local university on an education project.
“I was able to see Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica,” Dell said of the public viewing as he lay in state there. “That was a shock, and a surprise for sure. That was very important for me to come down and see him.”
Bribchik was very sad to hear about Francis’ passing but also feels special to be in Rome at this moment in history.
“It’s very exciting,” she said, noting how her grandmother got out a text to her in the square about the new pope before the service went down.
Giovanni Berarde, a native of a small, Italian-speaking enclave of Southeast Switzerland, was in the Square to witness history with his wife Olena, and their young son Micha.
Berarde said that he had recently lost a best friend who had served in the Swiss Guards and that he was dedicating this moment to him.
“It’s important for me. I hope that the Church will have a good pope,” he said, as they waited for the announcement to be made after the white smoke billowed. Upon hearing the new pope was an American, he put his hand on my shoulder and said congratulations.
Berarde said that the new pope should continue in the same ways of caring for people as Pope Francis advocated, but that he must also seek common ground.
“It is also very important that he be a diplomat to make peace in the world. I hope he is somebody who can look also for diplomacy,” he said, noting that there are many fires of discord burning all over the globe right now.
