Benedictine Sister In St. Peter's Square When Pope Francis First Appears

Benedictine Sister Rebecca Abel is a member of the Sisters of St. Benedict at Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand and a librarian at North American College in Rome.

And when white smoke billowed out of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City on March 13, she was there to see it.

“I was indeed in St. Peter’s Square when the white smoke appeared and when Pope Francis first appeared,” she said in an e-mail.

“Weather-wise it was terrible, cold, rainy but otherwise it was a great experience! Some faculty and students from the North American College were with me and we all expected it to be ‘black’ smoke but came to St. Peter’s square ‘just in case.’

“Our efforts were rewarded.

“When the smoke appeared there was no doubt that it was white, and it was bellowing from that little smokestack. White, white, white, and it went on and on.

“The crowd was in an uproar, cheering, shouting ‘Habemus Papum.’ The bells of St. Peter’s began ringing and all the bells of the other churches joined in!”

It took about an hour before the newly-elected pope appeared but the time flew,” she remembers.

“I said to one of our Jesuit spiritual directors, ‘What if it is a Jesuit?!’ He said, ‘Never, the order wouldn’t permit it!’ His famous last words!!!!

“It was a considerate crowd, and even though it was raining all umbrellas were down, so everyone could see. As we watched there was movement behind the curtains, and the crowd began cheering.

“First the cardinal came out and made the announcement ‘Habemus Papum.’ He then proceeded to name his [the newly-elected pope’s] baptismal name in Latin and the name he chose as pope. 

“Those who understood the Latin soon passed the information through the crowd. Everyone was cheering but when Pope Francis appeared they gave him their fullest attention. We were mesmerized by his simplicity of word and actions.

“At first, he just stood there -- in shock, I think.

“Then his smile radiated and his words asking us ‘the people’ for prayers and silence.  When he asked for a silent prayer from us, it was so quiet, that the only sound was the seagulls overhead. Then after he blessed us people began chanting ‘Francesco! Francesco! Francesco!’ And his last words were the most simple of all – ‘bouna sera’ and ‘buona notte!’ ‘Good evening’ and ‘good night!’”

Sister Rebecca said the “emotion of that evening is still there” with her.