Remember when Peter, James, and John were on the mountain where Jesus was being transfigured, Peter upon answering Jesus's question of who do people think he was?-made the Lord to declare to Peter that, he was the rock upon which he will build his church. So the first Pope since the beginning of the Catholic Church is believed to be St. Peter. Peter's Basilica in Rome is said to be built on the ground where Peter was killed by the Romans over 2000 years ago.
Anyway, we saw the election of Pope Francis I, the 76 year old Argentine citizen who is now automatically a citizen of the Vatican City,Rome. What a joy that is? he is also the first Non-European to be elected in over 1000 years and the first from the Americas, South to be specific. So this conclave led by the Holy Spirit did wonders to all of humankind; see we think and plan and God laugh,ha!!. The most interesting part of this whole election was that,the then Cardinal Jorge, Archbishop of Argentina was not on the list of Cardinals that people even in the hierarchy of the church were speculating could be elected. The power of the Holy Spirit indeed.
The new Pope assumed office immediately after his election, and that is the nature of his calling into the office, no inauguration was necessary. His election of course became a moment of great importance when Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI called it retirement.
We simply thank God for his sacrifice for the church and wish him very well, and as we welcome Pope Francis I, we pray that God would grant him the wisdom to deal with the brokenness not just in the church but in the world at large.
Habemus Papam!!in latin; meaning (We have a Pope) in English!.
Pal Ron
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