📅 A Historic Day in the Church
At 6:08 PM Rome time (11:08 AM CT), history was made as white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel: signaling the election of our new Pope. The crowd erupted with joy, bells rang out across Rome, and thousands of people surged into St. Peter’s Square.
The new Holy Father is none other than Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who now goes by the name Pope Leo XIV. He’s the first American-born pope, hailing from Chicago! 🏙️
👀 Ashley Was Right There
Rome correspondent Ashley Noronha brought the moment to life, describing the emotional, electric energy of the crowd. People cried, hugged, prayed, and chanted “Viva il Papa!” as the white smoke billowed.
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She mentioned how the election happened on the fourth ballot, just like Pope Benedict XVI’s. She also gave a beautiful reflection on where the new Pope appeared, literally standing beneath the scripture where Jesus gives Peter the keys to heaven (Matthew 16:19). Epic.
🙏 Pope Leo’s First Moments
John and Ashley both were nearly in tears recalling that powerful first appearance. Pope Leo stood there, clearly moved, his eyes misty. His first words were words of peace, and the crowd responded with spontaneous applause, flag-waving, and joyful tears.
Ashley shared some colorful reactions from the international crowd:
-Americans in the Square broke into “USA! USA!” chants.
-One woman was ecstatic; she had “adopted” Cardinal Prevost in a prayer campaign and proudly said: “My baby Cardinal is now Pope!”
A Pope of Prayer, Canon Law… and Tradition
Pope Leo celebrated his first Mass with the Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel and wore the traditional mozzetta and stole, signaling a reverent nod to papal tradition. (Fun fact: Ashley got to hold that very stole in her hands.)
He’s also a canon lawyer, which Vatican insiders were very excited about. He speaks multiple languages fluently: including Italian, Latin, Spanish, French, and yes, English (though he skipped it when he first appeared, probably to emphasize his role as a bridge-builder for the universal Church 🌍).
⛪ What’s Next?
On Sunday, Pope Leo will lead the Regina Caeli prayer from that same iconic balcony (not from the Apostolic Palace), signaling continuity and closeness to the people.
Ashley says the mood in Rome is one of hope, prayer, and joyful anticipation. Even late into the night, the Square was filled with Bible studies, singing, and spontaneous prayer. This is our Church family story unfolding.
🎧 You can listen to Ashley’s reporting on the Relevant Radio app; just look for “Relevant in Rome.” Trust us, this is the kind of episode you’ll want to hear again…
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