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| Vatican City |
It has been six months since we returned from England and although our lives still feel a bit turned around, it's nothing compared to the Catholic church which is going through a major change. Pope Benedict XVII, after much prayer and meditation announced to the world that he is resigning on Feb. 28 due to advanced age. He turns 86 in April. The last Pope to step down was Pope Gregory XII and that was in the 15th Century. Needless to say, the world was taken by surprise.
I think Pope Benedict should be commended. I know it's not customary for a Pope to step down, but its better than the alternative ~ watching him whither away and die at the altar. We watched Pope John Paul II to the end, and although he was adored, it was a long and painful journey. I read an article in the New York Times about a journalist who followed John Paul for his last 7 years. He said the Pope had to be propped up, wiped of drool, and required several attendants as he tried to deliver mass each week. The whole world watched as he declined to his death.
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| St. Peter's Square |
Pope Benedict, on the other hand, said from the beginning when he was no longer able to serve, with God's blessing, he would step down. And that's exactly what he did. He gave two weeks notice and the Catholic church went into a tizzy. Since this was unprecedented in the modern world, protocol was followed for replacing a deceased Pope, and the cardinal conclave was called.
So here's what is happening in Vatican City.
Late last week, Pope Benedict gave his final address and flew off in a helicopter to Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence south of Rome. After the new Pope is chosen, Benedict, who will assume the new title, Benedict XVI, rather than reclaim his birth name Joseph Ratzinger, will return to the Vatican grounds and reside there in retirement until his death. In the meantime, a papal conclave of 115 cardinals is convening in Vatican City right now. They will be responsible for electing the new Pope. This practice of forming a conclave began 600 years ago when Pope Gregory stepped down. After three years with no leader, the cardinals were sent to a room and told not to come out until a decision was made. Several days later they emerged with a new Catholic leader.
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Hallway leading to the Sistine Chapel
(no photos allowed in the chapel itself) |
That brings us to today. Gathered in the Sistine Chapel, 115 cardinals have sequestered themselves from the world. They were sworn to secrecy and will have no contact with loved ones. They will eat, sleep, and pray together until a new Pope has been elected. The voting will occur up to four times daily. The process can take several days until the favored cardinal comes out on top, round after round, and climbs the papal ladder to gain 77 votes or two-thirds of the majority. Then, an announcement will come.
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| Cardinal Conclave |
A smoke signal will billow from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel to alert the world when the new leader is chosen. If black smoke is signaled then no decision has been reached, however, when white smoke erupts then the world has been alerted: a new Pope will reign. The first voting session has just ended and black smoke poured from the make-shift chimney. Much to the chagrin of the thousands who have huddled in the rain in St. Peter's Square, no decision was reached. And so the conclave continues. Most suspect it will take four to five days before a new leader will emerge. But when he does he will announce his new name (since nobody goes by their birth name), and he will go to the window of the second floor of the Vatican and address all those gathered in St. Peter's Square. It will be a moment to remember.
One final word, what's up with the red shoes? According to tradition, back in 1566 St. Pope Pius V decided to change the papal dress from red to white. However, he kept his cape, cap and shoes red. All successive Popes wore red shoes except for Pope John Paul, who wore brown. Benedict brought back the red shoe. We shall see if the tradition continues.
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| St. Peter's Square |
Personally, I don't know what is more exciting. The fact that all this drama is unfolding as the world watches to see who will be the next Pope, or the fact that we were there, in Rome, where all the action is taking place. We stood in the Sistine Chapel, in awe of all its glory. We toured the Vatican, prayed in the Basilica, and stood in St. Peter's Square awaiting the Pope's Sunday blessing. However, that particular Sunday the Pope did not show. Instead we saw a video recording of his address since it was the Sunday after Easter and he was on holiday. It was still powerful though; people fell to their knees and held up their jewelry so everything would be blessed.
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| Beginning tour of Vatican City |
Our adventure may be over but the memory of Rome is burned in our hearts forever. Blessings to all those who await the news, and to the old and new Pope alike. A historical moment indeed.
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