Flashback to April 19, 2005

Seminarian Joseph Previtali was in St. Peter's Square when Pope
Benedict XVI was introduced on April 19, 2005. Here is what he saw and experienced:

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum - habemus papam!  Eminentissimum et
reverendissimum Dominum Josephum, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem
Ratzinger.  Qui accipit nomen Benedictus XVI!

Indeed, it is a great joy to be Catholic today, as we receive yet
another blessing from Our Father in Heaven: Pope Benedict XVI.  I just
got back from St. Peter's, and I want to share with you my beautiful
ecclesial experience.

I went down to St. Peter's Square at around 5:30 pm and joined my
brother NAC seminarians.  A few of the guys had brought guitars and
drums, and we began to sing praise-and-worship songs.  During our time
of prayer, many of the others in the Square came over and joined us.  It
was an awesome experience to praise the Lord in song with so many
fellow Catholics, all of us imploring Him to send us another holy pope.

At around 6:00, as we were ending a song, the smoke emerged from the
Sistine Chapel chimney.  At first, it was black and we were
disappointed.  But then we realized that they must have reached a
consensus because of the early burning of the ballots.  At about the
same time, the smoke turned white.  Little by little the anticipation
increased as white smoke came pouring out.  We began cheering, and
waited for the conclusive sign that we were truly seeing white smoke:
the ringing of the bells.

After about five minutes (at least it seemed that long), the crowd
erupted into a huge roar as the bells began to move.  The explosion of
emotion was much like what one would experience during an exciting
moment at a sporting event.  Needless to say, the anticipation
heightened.

We waited for 25 more minutes, singing praise to God for the new Pope
and talking about who it might be.  Of course, everyone now says they
knew it was Cardinal Ratzinger all along.  I, for one, have never been
happier to be wrong.

When the gentiluomini  came out onto the center balcony of the facade
of St. Peter's Basilica to close the curtains, the crowd roared in
delightful anticipation.  Onto the balcony emerged Cardinal Jorge Medina
Estevez, the Cardinal Proto-Deacon.  He greeted his "dear brothers and
sisters" in  five languages, and then declared the solemn announcement
of the new Bishop of Rome. 

When he said "Dominum Josephum", we began to jump around like we were
sitting in the Kennel Club section at a Gonzaga basketball game.  And
when the name "Ratzinger" was pronounced, there was pandemonium the
likes of which I have never seen.

We waited with now-relieved anticipation for the procession of the
new Pope Benedict XVI onto the balcony to greet the crowd.  The Church
had gotten her man, and we were ready to give him what has now become a
Pope's welcome.  And then he came. 

For most of us, it was the first time we had seen anyone besides John
Paul II in the Pope's white zucchetto.  There was the familiar German
face of Joseph Ratzinger, a humble servant of the Lord, as he rightly
called himself in his address.  As he did many times as Prefect of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Pope Benedict got right to
the point: "After the great Pope John Paul II..."  The crowd roared in
approval of this noble salutation for our dear departed JPII. 

Benedict then assured us that he has entrusted himself to the Lord
and to His Mother and to the prayers of the Christian faithful.  There
was a serene humility about him.  I imagine that he will waste no time
in beginning his Petrine Ministry.  His choice of St. Benedict's name no
doubt indicates something of the direction of his pontificate.  The
choice of the name of the patron saint of Europe is certainly
appropriate during this time of the secularization and
de-Christianization of European society.  Additionally, St. Benedict's
great promotion of and love for the dignified celebration of the Sacred
Liturgy will not go unheeded by our new Holy Father.

After his brief address, our new Pope intoned the Urbi et Orbi
Blessing.  As we knelt before him and made the sign of the cross, many
were moved to tears.  The joyous celebration of this gift from God to
His Church gives us the opportunity to reflect more deeply on the
richness of our Catholic faith.  What an even more precious gift is that
faith! 

Pope Benedict XVI is eating supper tonight with the cardinals in the
Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he will spend the night.  He will celebrate
Mass with them tomorrow morning at 9:00 am in the Sistine Chapel.  Let
us pray for him as he begins his time as the 264th Successor of Peter. 
May the Blessed Virgin Mary and her faithful son Pope John Paul II,
intercede for him before the throne of God, that he may take up this
cross and follow the Lord in complete fidelity and with peace and joy.

Your brother in Christ,
Joe

Joe is now Fr. Joseph Previtali of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and is Parochial Vicar at St. Gabriel parish.