Habemus Papam!

A little thing about me. I love the pope. I love the entire concept of the papacy and my love for it grew even more when I visited Rome for the first time 2 years ago this month and I first saw Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. I was very blessed to see him a total of 7 times during 2 visits to Rome and one of those times, he was a mere arm's length away from me. It was at the conclusion of the Easter Vigil 2011. It was during the recessional hymn that he passed right by me. I could have touched him if I'd tried. But that moment wasn't when I first fell in love with the papacy. I was standing in St. Peter's Square on for the pope's Sunday Angelus with my friends waiting for Benedict to come to the window. As he did, cheers rose from the square and he began to speak. There is no way to describe the feeling of hearing his voice in person for the first time. It was so comforting and I felt like I was in the presence of a shepherd.

I took this picture with no zoom. That's how close I was. 

I am so excited about our new pope. His profound humility has left me very humbled. Pope Francis' episcopal (from when he was just a bishop in Argentina) motto is Miserando atque eligendo (Lowly but chosen). How fitting that he then choose the name Francis. Cardinal Dolan confirmed it in his press conference that it's in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis of Assisi was an incredible lover of the poor and was called by God to rebuild His Church.

I'm also very excited that he is a Jesuit. He doesn't have the stigma that most Jesuits have. And from what I have read about him so far, he genuinely lives out the Jesuit motto of Ad Majorem Dei Gloraim (For the greater glory of God). I do my best to live my own life by that same idea.

If you didn't hear, this is what our new Holy Father, Pope Francis, had to say to the world:

"Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Good evening.

As you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome, and it seems to me that my brother cardinals have chosen who is from far away. Here I am.

I would like to thank you for your embrace, also to the Roman Catholic Church and the bishops, thank you very much. And first and foremost, I would like to pray for our bishop emeritus, Benedict XVI.

Let is pray together for him so that he is blessed by the Lord...

Let us begin this journey together...this journey for the Roman Catholic Church. It is a journey of friendship, of love, of trust, and faith. Let us pray always for one another. Let us pray for the while word. Let us have a big brotherhood.

I wish that this journey for the Church, which we will start today...will bear fruits for the evangelizing of this beautiful city.

I would like to offer you my blessing. But I would like to ask a favor first. I would like to pray to the Lord so that the prayer of the people blesses also the new pontiff. Let us pray in silence your prayer for me."

To watch the Holy Father bow down and ask for the blessing of the people he shepherds was absolutely breathtaking. Such profound humility. A true example for every one of us to follow.

I am so proud to say that I work for the Church that this man now leads. I am excited to call him our new Holy Father. I am excited to follow his example of true humility.