Yesterday's papal presentation at St. Peter's was full of smiles despite the rain, despite the huge crowd, despite the suspense and the long waiting moments. I arrived to the Vatican's Square two hours before the white smoke started to come out. I found a wonderful spot near the papal balcony where a classmate and good friend of mine was standing. We had the equivalent of three rows of persons in front of us while behind us we had more than one hundred thousand people. Just being there, having great spot, and talking to my friend were the first reasons why I smiled even though the water was pouring and everyone was pushing.
Before the smoke came out, everyone in the world who was watching the smoke stack was smiling because a seagull was just taking it easy standing on it. For those of us in the Square the bird was a distraction from the uncertainty and anticipation as we were waiting for the smoke. The first possibility for white smoke to raise on the air was at 6pm. At 6pm, though, nothing happened. At around 6:15 the seagull went away. The second possibility was at 7pm. Those forty-five minutes of waiting were long. The rain just kept falling and falling. Five minutes before seven I began to doubt white smoke would come out. And all of the sudden someone yelled at the top of the lungs, "WHITE SMOKE!!" I looked and at first it seemed gray. A few seconds later, however, it was white as snow and I went mad out joy. Everyone had smiles at that moment.
As the bells were ringing and the smoke kept coming out, the second waiting time started, this time we were waiting to meet the new Pope. We were so anxious and curious asking one another who could he be. We began chanting hymns of praise to God and suddenly came another surprise that caused more smiles: The Vatican marching band came into the square playing joyful music and afterwards the Swiss Guard and the Carabinieri Police came marching and playing music as well. The Square became the place of a sacred party.
Finally, the moment we were all waiting for. The archdeacon came out and presented Pope Francis I. It was an enormous surprise of happiness. Once the Pope came out the occasions he gave us to continue to smile for the rest of the night were innumerable. The silence that everyone made to hear his voice was stunning. His greeting was so gentle and fraternal. The second thing he said was a joke that cracked everyone up! Then, he asked us to pray for Ratzinger and that was just awesome, I thought I was dreaming when I was reciting the Our Father for the Bishop Emeritus of Rome. The other two special moments, among everything else, were the moment he bowed down in front of all of us asking us to pray in silence for a him and the moment when he imparted his first Urbi et Orbi blessing. Last night we all went to sleep with smiles and grateful hearts!
If you have questions or comments please e-mail me to icamilon@gmail.com or send a tweet to @navarrocrs and I also invite you to see the PICTURES I took for all of you by clicking here!
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