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Where are you?
Today is the 2nd Anniversary of the election of Pope Benedict XVI. That was quite a day. You might chime in to say where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news.
This is what I was doing. The photo is terribly distorted, since it was shot by someone from a television screen and sent to me. We look fairly happy:
WDTPRS participant Vincenzo found the Fox News video. Go to this web page at the Fox News site:
Then scroll down – on the left side you’ll see “Papal Video.” Select “Ratzinger Elected New Pope.”
More direct link (works with Firefox, but maybe not IE).
You will even hear commentary from Fr. Z!
In the meantime, here are a few place you are right now:
Portland, Oregon
Santa Cruz De La Palma,...
Stevenage, Norfolk
Zagreb, Grad Zagreb
Millwall, Newham
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Rome, Lazio
Hilo, Hawaii
Lakewood, California
Graz, Steiermark
Anchorage, Alaska
London, Lambeth
Guildford, Bracknell Fo…
Seoul, Seoul-t’ukpyolsi
Notre Dame, Indiana
Detroit, Michigan
Forbes Park, Pasay
Harrow
Ireland
07-04-19: Leo the Great - Benedict XVI - Habemus Papam! [28:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
I’m at home in Pukekohe, New Zealand! And that’s where I was when the news of Benedict’s election was announced – and I couldn’t have been happier!
Comment by John Thayer Jensen — 19 April 2007 @ 9:09 amIt was about 6 pm here in Ireland when it broke, as far as I recall. Later that evening I dropped into a pub on the way home – as you do – and it was on the big screen (usually reserved only for sports!). What I plainly recall is the religion correspondent of our leading “liberal” broadsheet being interviewed and the disappointment on his face and his mealy-mouthed comments i.e. he was actually fuming that the Holy Spirit had dared to go against the received wisdom of Ireland’s “paper of record”. Sweet moment. He continues to fulminate, of course, the latest effusion being only last week. Heh Heh Heh :)
Comment by jaykay — 19 April 2007 @ 10:21 am“This is what I was doing. The photo is terribly distorted, since it was shot by someone from a television screen and sent to me. We look fairly happy:”
I was at home watching it on TV. I often watch Fox News but I can’t remember which channel I was watching (it might have been EWTN). What is permanently etched in my mind, however, is the look on Pope Benedict XVI’s face when he emerged. He projected immense love and instantly I felt at peace, confident that we had a great man as Pope.
Pic:
http://i14.tinypic.com/2mdgwzl.jpg
Comment by Vincenzo — 19 April 2007 @ 10:40 amI had been keeping vigil in front of the boob tube, coordinating my sleep with the balloting. Exhausted, I took a short nap (1 hour) nap and missed the announcement and HH B16’s speech. I still am sorely disappointed that I missed it! As soon as I awoke, however, whatever station I was watching at the time was replaying his speech. I thought I was dreaming: I mean, really, Ratzinger…as pope? I’ve wanted that since 1985 when, as a high school freshman, I devoured the Ratzinger Report (I was and am an ecclesiastical “groupie”). As much as the death of HH JP Magnus broke my heart, so much did the election of HH B16 cheer it. Viva il Papa!
Comment by Kevin — 19 April 2007 @ 10:59 amI was having lunch, alone, at a small Mexican Restaurant here in Greensboro, NC, and stopped eating, stood up and approached the TV. All serving came to a stop, and I stood there with the waitresses, who were all very excited, and watched… Oh, it was on Univision, BTW, and I think I was the only Anglo who stopped to watch.
Comment by Carolina Publican — 19 April 2007 @ 11:11 amI was at my office in Portland, OR and was a Protestant. Now I am a Catholic living in Steubenville, OH and have no job (going to school).
Comment by arieh0310 — 19 April 2007 @ 11:17 amOh happy day! Following a dash to St Peter’s Square on hearing that there was smoking coming out of that chimney after what must have been the 1st afternoon ballot, I managed to secure a place just in front of the obelisk for the announcement:
I took out a pocket telecope and focused it on the great windows of the balcony. Was there activity behind those white curtains? I couldn’t tell. There was a festive athmosphere in the Square. There wasn’t much singing (who knew what name to sing?) or conversation, but there was a lot of laughter. I found myself chuckling to myself with excitement on more than one occasion. At one stage it started to rain, but anyone unwise enough to start opening an umbrella was quickly chastised and told to stop. Everyone wanted a view. Seemingly out of nowhere materialized the Carabineri band, a detachement of the Italian military and the Swiss guards – all ready to pay their respects to the new Pontiff.
After waiting about 20 minutes there was definite activity on the balcony. Someone emerged and released the red curtains which had been tied back either side of the great window. The crowd gasped. And then Cardinal Estevez emerged and with much sssshing the crowd fell silent.
‘Cari fratelli e sorelle,’ (Dear brothers and sisters) he began. The crowd began to ask why he was not speaking Latin. Then he repeated the same words in Spanish (have they elected a Latin American?), and then in German, French and English. The crowd held its breath.
‘Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum’
(And one could feel a wave of Great Joy sweep through the Square)
‘Habemus papam’
(Applause and rejoicing – I must confess to being on the verge of tears)
‘Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum’
(Yes, yes…)
‘Dominum’
(Yes…)
‘Dominum’
(Nerves well and truly wracked)
‘Iosephum’
(And I cannot resist shouting ‘Ratzinger’ as Cardinal Estevez pauses for a mischievous smile)
‘Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem’
(Get on with it!)
‘Ratzinger.’
(The square explodes with joy!)
‘Qui sibi nomen imposuit…’
(Ssssssh! )
‘Benedictum XVI’
Immediately the chant went up – ‘Benedetto! Benedetto!’
The Senior Cardinal deacon withdrew and Vatican staff emerged to hang the traditional tapestry with the arms of the previous Pope over the balcony.
After that they withdrew and the Cardinal electors began to appear at the balconies either side of the central one. They jostled each other for a good view and one or two began waving their birettas like schoolboys.
And then the processional cross was brought out onto the balcony by one of the Vatican MCs followed by the man himself! Benedict the 16th – Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. He looked overwhelmed – he gave his shy smile and began waving to the crowd. Not a natural showman like his predecessor he looked ill-at-ease, but for a second (and several people have said this to me) he looked just like John Paul II. A microphone was produced and he gave his message.
Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the Lord Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.
I am consoled by the fact that the Lord knows how to work and act even with insufficent instruments and I particularly entrust myself to your prayers.
Comment by Zadok the Roman — 19 April 2007 @ 11:20 amIn the joy of the Risen Lord, trusting in His constant help, we move ahead. May the Lord help us and and may His Mother be at our side. Thank you. After that, you can be sure that I celebrated appropriately in one of my favourite restaurants.
I was in Ottawa, Canada, preparing for my comprehensive exams for canon law. Mine were scheduled for the next day. One of my classmates, a rather liberal nun, had hers that afternoon. When we heard, at lunch, that there was white smoke, a group of us ran upstairs to watch. The nun was going back and forth between her suite down the hall and the TV room, alternately primping herself for comps and watching for the announcement. At one point, she said, “If it’s Ratzinger, somebody tell me, because then I won’t bother with comps, because I’m just gonna throw in the towel on this Church.” Sure enough, Cardinal Estevez made the announcement. The room was deadly silent, as everyone was afraid of what the nun’s reaction would be. Finally, I couldn’t contain myself any longer – I jumped up out of my chair with a vociferous “Whoopee!” and ran downstairs to my room to call my parents.
The nun hasn’t thrown in the towel on the Church yet, and now claims that, while she couldn’t stand Cardinal Ratzinger, she is okay with Pope Benedict. I’ve told her that’s like parsing the Jesus of history from the Christ of faith. She’s responded, “exactly.”
My only disappointment with the election was the fact that we had been scheduled to meet with Cardinal Ratzinger at the CDF offices during our class trip to Rome after comps. Instead, we got in on his second Wednesday audience, and had seats right up in the first row of the “VIP” section.
Comment by Tim Ferguson — 19 April 2007 @ 11:47 amI know where I was: In the midst of the greatest conversion of my life thanks to Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict.
Fr. Z: Sorry to deviate here, but I don’t know if my email is getting through. Please check. I’ve been sending you those reminders.
Comment by Diane — 19 April 2007 @ 11:49 amI was getting ready to leave for San Diego State Universty. I had changed the tape in the VCR, wasn’t expecting much to happen. We knew that there would be smoke late in the day, but as it came out the announcers said it was dark. Yet it kept coming, and it began to dawn that the light was behind it and it was rather difficult to tell exactly what color it was. Then people began to gravitate to the square, first slowly, then running. I recall a girl announcer said that she thought that the smoke was light. I pulled myself away long enough to yell upstairs to my Mum “I think you’d better come down here, I think we have a Pope! Then I believe the bells of St. Peter’s began to ring out, and we all knew that the Holy Spirit had done His work, but what?
As the Cardinal Camerlengo read out each portion of the Habemus Papam, my mother and I held hands nervously, alternately hoping and afraid of what may have been wrought upon us…and at the mention of Ratzinger we both jumped into the air yelling and came down hugging. I’ve always hoped that the neighbors thought we’d gone mad for a moment. Actually we were filled with an overflowing hope that the Catholic Church had gone quite SANE once again.
My eyes are moist as I write this, remembering the beginning what may turn out to be the last hope for the Roman Catholic Church in the modern age. God Bless our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, may he reign for many years, with serenity, security, and the blessing of God in all that he undertakes.
Comment by John Polhamus — 19 April 2007 @ 11:51 amFrom last year’s post…and I’m ever grateful to God that I experienced the election this way…
I was at noon Mass at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Lancaster, PA. There’s an old fellow who daily sits in the last pew of the church. When I came in, he motioned me over, pulling me down, he gave me his prophecy with a deliberate wink, “I guarantee it. It’s gonna be Ratzinger.â€
It was a warm day, and the stained-glass windows were open. At twelve, as usual, the bells rang the hour. Then a few minutes later, just into the first reading, they began tolling again. It was then I suddenly realized they hadn’t stopped. Not only hadn’t they stopped, but they were palpably joined by other bells from around the city, tolling and rolling louder and louder.
People began looking around at each other, all obviously thinking the same thing. The gentleman serving Mass quietly rose and went into the sacristy, which is connected to the rectory. He came out a few minutes later, grinning ear to ear. He looked directly at me as he came through the door, smiled and nodded his head. Sitting back down, he leaned over and whispered to Father.
St. Mary’s in a beautiful old church, with a raised pulpit. When it came time for the homily, Father mounted the steps verrry slowly, and smiling broadly, said, “It seems we have a pope.â€
After Mass, everyone patted each other on the back, and said, “I wonder who it is?†I ran out to my car, and flipped on the radio. I couldn’t find the announcement at first, but finally I got a fuzzy station from Philadelphia. The reception cleared up just in time for Cardinal Medina to make the announcement. I couldn’t help myself, when I heard the name, tears ran down my cheeks. I then flipped open my phone and called my friend Henry Edwards down in Tennessee, and we whooped it up together.
Comment by Jon — 19 April 2007 @ 11:53 amWhat great anecdotes! Keep ‘em coming!
Perhaps I’ll do my own in a PODCAzT.
Comment by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf — 19 April 2007 @ 12:21 pmI went to St. Peter’s Sq. the 2nd day of the conclave. I knew there’d be nothing major the first evening, and would have been surprised if anything had happened Tuesday morning. So in the late afternoon I put on my Cardinal Ratzinger Fan Club t-shirt and hopped on the 46 bus. As we approached the stop before the tunnel everyone’s cell phone went off and people started running toward the piazza. I missed the white smoke, but got my usual spot by the south fountain so I’d have an adequate view of the balcony. One guy with a big camera saw my shirt, smiled, shot some footage, then disappeared. When Cardinal Medina Estevez said “Iosephum” I started screaming, though everyone around me was quiet and listening intently. They stared at me like I was a madwoman, but I knew it could have only been MY Iosephum. The elegant Mexican lady next to me was asking “Who is it? Who is it?” “Ratzinger!” I shrieked. Which was confirmed a few seconds later by the good Cardinal. Several news crews spotted my shirt and interviewed me (including one very cranky person from Le Monde). “How did you know it would be Ratzinger?” was everyone’s question (one German reporter asked, “Ratzinger Fan Club? Where do you have your meetings?”). I didn’t know it would be Cardinal Ratzinger, I didn’t think the Signori Cardinali would have the chutzpah, frankly. But I had been praying and hoping. It remains one of the happiest moments of my life.
Comment by Magdalen Ross — 19 April 2007 @ 1:03 pmI had spent the afternoon with a non-christian friend, and when we reasoned about who would make it, she told me she hoped it wouldn’t be Ratzinger, because “he is so conservative”. When I came home, I switched on my internet and read the news “white smoke”. Immediately I started the Vatican Television stream, just in time for Estevez Medina saying “Dominum Josephum”! There was a lot of screaming in my room…
Comment by Victor — 19 April 2007 @ 1:06 pmI was decorating the second bedroom of our former home, getting it ready for tenants to move in. An empty room with a wooden floor gives a great acoustic for singing the Te Deum!
I got a couple of doses of cold water in the following days. First, that evening I was at the meeting of the parish RCIA group, and oh! the long faces of the Tablet-readers! Then, the following Sunday, we had a Carmelite priest saying Mass; the theme of his homily was, ‘OUR bishop is the Bishop of Middlesbrough, not some German guy in Rome.’ Whatever happened to ‘We are an Easter people?’
The British media coverage was also rather baffling. ‘Shock News: New Pope is a Catholic’ was the kind of headline we saw. (I exaggerate only slightly!)
We’ll have so much to tell our grandchildren!
Comment by Ben — 19 April 2007 @ 1:24 pmI was getting ready to head to the tennis courts, but the delay on the smoke indicated that something might be up. So I waited.
The announcement was stunning because I didn’t think there were the votes to elect Cardinal Ratzinger. I thought that Cardinal Bertone would be elected. Unfortunately, I was too dumb to tape the announcement.
Which announcement, BTW, was in the genetive: qui sibi nomen imposuit Benedicti Decimi Sexti. The Osservatore Romano, however, used the accusative: Benedictum.
Comment by RBrown — 19 April 2007 @ 1:29 pmI was at work at a Catholic School with the news on. A lunch date had been made with a friend and my sister, right as the bells started to chime. I waited about two minutes but I HAD to meet them for lunch. I had my sister ask my brother-in-law to call when the news came (we were not going somewhere that did tvs in the restaurant by any means). When it was announced I teared up. What a wonderful day…I was so aware of the Holy Spirit guiding the Church that day.
Comment by nab — 19 April 2007 @ 1:31 pmAlthough someone might have immediately presumed it was Card Ratzinger when they heard the name “Iosephum”, I couldn’t make the jump. After “Iosephum” I tried to think of Cardinals with that name—the only one I came up with was Cardinal Glemp.
Comment by RBrown — 19 April 2007 @ 1:35 pmI was on my computer, brousing the COL forum while having lunch, and lo! there were posts about white smoke and bells ringing!
So I dashed downstairs to the TV, and in about 15 minutes came the glad tidings.
My son arrived home from school a little later, not yet having heard, so I had the pleasure of telling him. He was delighted too—both because he’s a good kid, with a lot of sense, and because some of his very liberal classmates that day had been bad-mouthing Cardinal Ratzinger.
Comment by Karen Russell — 19 April 2007 @ 1:42 pmFr.
Is it possible to post a YouTube or other link to the video of the great announcements?
Comment by Matthew — 19 April 2007 @ 1:46 pmMatthew
“Someone” should be “some people”.
What followed the announcement (and delayed tennis) was as stunning as the name of the new pope. It seemed every different channel I tried had an old friend from Rome as the commentator. Then there was an interview in the Piazza with Msgr Jim Conley, an old friend from KU who was working in the Cong of Bishops. A few minutes later another old friend from KU, Bp Paul Coakley, was interviewed.
I have told the following story to students: In 1972 3 friends and I, looking for a Benedictine monastery that had preserved Latin, first arrived at the French Abbey of Fontgombault. A few months later I left France and spent a month in Rome. During my stay I met Cardinal Wright, who asked me what I was doing in Europe. When I told him about Fontgombault, his reply was “Fontainebleau?” Three or four times during our conversation he would say “Fontainebleau?” Each time I would try to correct him.
Fast forward to 2005 when the new pope is not only a friend of the Abbot of Fontgombault but had even visited the monastery.
Comment by RBrown — 19 April 2007 @ 1:50 pmPretending to work at my computer in Scotland and listening to a live broadcast (maybe EWTN)
It was very exciting, I guessed from the very first syllable of his name. II know that ‘exciting’ is an odd word to choose but it’s the best one to describe my mood – ‘jubilating’ would be better but doesn’t exist ;o)
Comment by Dale — 19 April 2007 @ 1:51 pmI was in the newsroom at the paper where I worked at the time. We all paused momentarily to watch the announcement on network t.v. I knew as soon as I heard the word “Iosephum” that it was Cardinal Ratzinger. It was a very happy day, and I didn’t really think he would be elected. I hoped he would be, but I thought the cardinals might have opted for someone a few years younger—and after all, Cardinal Ratzinger himself had been hoping to retire for some time. But it was, I think, the best possible choice, and would bring some continuity from John Paul II’s papacy while blessing the Church theologically and liturgically.
Comment by Jordan Potter — 19 April 2007 @ 2:03 pmIt was around lunchtime in my office in Ohio. All the Financial Advisors
Comment by Christine — 19 April 2007 @ 2:16 pmhave televisions in their offices. Everyone kept going into an office of
an FA who was out to lunch. It was so exciting. There was a crowd of us
watching and waiting when we heard Habemus Papem. I still remember jumping up
and down, and crying with great happiness when I heard the words,
Josefem, and then the definitive word, Ratzinger. It was such a memorable
moment. I have gone to the Vatican website to relive it several times.
It is in the videos under “white smoke”. I think I’ll do that today
sometime. God Bless the Papacy! Christine
I was at a funeral that day(I am a funeral director) and we were on our way to the cemetery(I had the priest in my car) and heard the news that a new pope had been chosen. of course, the announcement wasn’t out yet..so we completed the graveside service(I think the priest “pushed” it a bit) and then got right back in our cars to hear who had been chosen. Of course, it was only commericals, but when it came on and they said that Joseph Ratiznger was the new pope with the name Benedict XVI…there were shouts of joy in that cemetery!. What a day! We were now blessed to have a wonderful bishop(Bruskewitz) and new pope
Comment by MJ — 19 April 2007 @ 2:20 pm“Is it possible to post a YouTube or other link to the video of the great announcements?
Matthew”
Matthew,
I found the Fox News video. Go to this web page at the Fox News site:
click here
Then scroll down – on the left side you’ll see “Papal Video.” Select “Ratzinger Elected New Pope.”
Comment by Vincenzo — 19 April 2007 @ 2:22 pmI was in Saint Peter’s Square, about five rows from the front, praying the Rosary when the smoke began to pour out. At first, we were usure that it was actually “white” smoke because we (a friend of mine and I who had flown over just for the election) had been present for the other “burnings” and had been fooled by the greyish smoke. However, when we checked the time and realized that the burn was early, we knew and we shared the suspicion and hope that he would be the one for whom we had been praying. Sure enough…
I must say, it was also quite an experience to see the Square fill up. While waiting, before the smoke, we had been around 3,000, maybe. But when the bells began to ring, the floodgates opened and the faithful poured in. I was so touched to see so many with a deep love for the Church and the Holy Father, and the shouts of joy around me at the election of Papa Ratzinger left me shocked when I returned home to the States to find that some had not been so pleased. The election of such a great and saintly man filled my heart with joy for the next two months, and even made the horror of watching a woman in her late fifties dressed up in black and with close-cropped white hair, yelling, “We want to have a female pope” every morning, seem very insiginificant.
I join today in the great chorus of the Te Deum once again and I pray a hearty “Deo Gratias.” Ad multos annos, Sancte Pater!
Comment by Ben of the Bayou — 19 April 2007 @ 2:27 pmI am an at-home mom, so I was lucky to be able to have the TV on pretty much all the time, just watching and waiting.
So, I saw the white smoke live. I called our parish school (where my husband was a teacher at the time) and told the secretary: “WHITE SMOKE!” She didn’t even know yet! So she thanked me for telling her, and told me that she was going to go tell all the teachers.
Next, I picked up the phone and called my best friend and told her, too. We were both only 2 when Pope John Paul the Great was elected. We were both sad to lose him, but this was very exciting! She put on her TV, and we just watched on the phone, together. We didn’t really say much. I started crying. She started crying. I remember thinking that up until there was white smoke, I had my favorites, but right then at that moment, I wasn’t worried at all. I felt very peaceful. I know the Holy Spirit will always guide and protect our Church. I believed that whoever was elected, it was good news.
Almost as soon as I hung up with my friend, the phone rang. It was my mom. We cried together, too.
I will remember that day the rest of my life!
Comment by Elizabeth V — 19 April 2007 @ 2:33 pmI was riding around in my golf cart while working as a Ranger at The Everglades Golf Course. I was wearing headphones and closely following the news on my transistor radio.
And then the announcement came. Cardinal Ratzinger was elected Pope.
I began driving my cart around in circles. I was steering with my right hand and punching the air with my left fist and yelling “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” as loud as I could.
I actually teared-up. I was SO joyful. I still am.
I have lived during the reigns of two of the holiest and brightest Popes of all time…
Thanks be to God I was Bornacatholic and thanks be to God for my Mom and Dad.
Comment by Bornacatholic — 19 April 2007 @ 2:34 pmWhen I heard reports of white smoke I rushed home to watch the TV coverage.
When I heard the word Joseph announced I started jumping up and down as soon as I realized it was Cardinal Ratzinger who was elected. Then I started screaming with joy. I then wrote a blog post so jubilant that I was invited to come on MSNBC with some other Catholic bloggers. Unfortunately the serpentine drive in my car broke, and so I missed out. But even having to have my car towed to be fixed did not dim my joy at all on that day or the days to come.
Comment by Jeff Miller — 19 April 2007 @ 2:43 pmI just came home from work (in Singapore), started streaming EWTN on the ‘Net when I saw the white smokes
They had not announced who the newly elected Pope was then; I text-ed all my Catholic friends “Habemus Papam”! Some few hours later I jumped up and down when the announcer said “Josephum (YAY!) Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinales Ratzinger”... It’s been two years; ad multos annos!
Comment by Antonia — 19 April 2007 @ 2:44 pmI will never forget the day that Pope Benedict was elected. I was in the United States Interests Section in Havana, Cuba. I had just come down the stairs to basement where my office was located. There was a television in the area outside the office, and a few of our Cuban employees were gathered around it. When I got over to the television, a cardinal was coming out on to the balcony. It took me a few seconds to realize who had been elected because the program was in Spanish, and my Spanish wasn’t good enough to understand everything. I was elated when I understood that Cardinal Ratzinger was out new Pope. I remember floating around for the next several days. I don’t think that I have completely come down yet! Thank you, Lord, for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict!
Comment by Marysann — 19 April 2007 @ 2:44 pmI was at a small international scientific conference in Germany, near Trier. Dinner conversation was about everything (as per usual) including the election: the Germans were mostly saying, if its Ratzinger there’ll be protest marches; the Italians were largely in favour; me I was just hoping and hoping. Six pm Prof. XXX came over to me with his mobile, showing an I.M.