I cried in such agony.
He was, after all, my Pope. The only Pope I remembered having ...and then he was gone. Such sadness and loneliness filled my heart and soul. I felt like a sheep with no shepherd, literally. It was an empty feeling.
Such feelings came back as I watched Benedict depart the Vatican. I watched every moment in awe of the process and teared up as the door to the helicopter shut and took off. That was it. Then I took a deep breath. Shepherdless again, I found myself thankful to God that Benedict was here for us. I did not experience the feelings of grave sadness as with John Paul II, but the emptiness had returned.
I waited eagerly each day as the Cardinals traveled to the Vatican. When word of the beginning of the conclave was announced, I was overjoyed to watch the Holy Spirit once again choose the successor to Peter. In all its majesty with the Litany of Saints, and prayers worldwide, the procession to the Sistine Chapel was a site to behold. And then the doors shut...
My heart was pounding with excitement as the Lord was preparing the table of our new Pope.
After only 5 votes...white smoke!
Watching LIVE news coverage stream on my computer, waiting in anticipation of the announcement, and then the curtains opened!
Habemus Papam!
("We Have a Pope!") is the announcement given in Latin by the Cardinal Protodeacon, the senior Cardinal Deacon, upon the election of a new Roman Catholic pope.
The announcement was given from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. After the announcement, the new pope was presented to the people and he gave his first Urbi et Orbi blessing.
Again, in tears I watched in amazement as the world was introduced to Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis.
How grateful I am to be a witness to this process. How grateful I am to my faith for such a rich history and tradition.
Onward we go Pope Francis...there are great things to be done.