open book: Where were you?

« Haute Couture | Main | Wait for it.. »

April 19, 2007

Where were you?

Shifiting gears a bit - today is the 2nd anniversary of the election of Benedict XVI.

Here's a blog post from a year ago in which you shared your thoughts on the one-year anniversary and memories of the election.

Fr. Z's running a thread right now - I was particularly taken with Zadok's memories - he was there, of course!

You can watch video in various places, including the Vatican website, which is good because there's no commentary - just sights and sounds. (click on "white smoke" for scenes leading to the announcement and "1st Papal Address" for the announcement)

(Oh, and in case anyone's still reading this ...remember the great video, "Habemus Papam" - that was on American Papist's website)

(After his papal name is announced, you can already hear the chant "Ben-e-dett-o." It begins rather evenly, and then by the time Benedict has finished talking, it's transmongrified into the sing-songy Bennnnn- e - DETT- o that you hear now.)

I swear, hearing those bells again and seeing the crowds pouring into the piazza, with people racing from the city - responding to the bells, to the call to come and here the news, as people have done throughout history - chills. In a good way - in a way that connects me with Christ, His Church, here, now and across time.

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.
In 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.

Posted by Amy Welborn | Permalink

Comments

I remember exactly where I was--in a mental hospital recovering from a near-suicidal bout of depression. My father had just died after a long battle with cancer, I had developed serious chronic health problems of my own, and a precious personal relationship had just ended abruptly and unexpectedly. I was bitter, angry at God, and scared to death. But Benedict's election and especially his first homily as Pope greatly helped me recover from my crisis of faith. God Bless our Holy Father!

Posted by: Niall Mor at Apr 19, 2007 1:28:03 PM

Two years ago today... Thank you for the reminder, Amy, particularly via the question you put as your header "Where were you?" I was heading along the Via Di Porta Angelica, towards the Piazza San Pietro when the first puffs of white smoke became visible. People abandoned their cars, even a driver his bus. My brother friar and I were forced to kilt our habits a bit, so as not to be left behind by he crowd. From the first mad rush to the Piazza to everyone's calm exit from the same an hour or so later, it was perhaps the most tangible experience I have ever of what it is to be Catholic -- "Here comes everybody," as Flannery O'Connor aptly named it. To shamelessly claim another famous phrase, "Thanks for the memories," Amy!

Posted by: Fr. Russel, OFM at Apr 19, 2007 1:40:24 PM

I was supposed to be chaperoning my son’s 8th grade trip to Universal Studios in Orlando. I sent the kids with my wife and other parents out for the day and I stayed at the hotel and watched it on TV. I called the group at the park and told them the news.

Posted by: William at Apr 19, 2007 1:54:43 PM

My husband and I watched the event on tv together and I spontaneously fell to my knees in gratitude when I saw Cardinal Ratzinger emerge! It was a moment of joy in a time of deep sadness. You could almost feel the absence of John Paul II’s spirit in the days after his death. The grief over the death of our beloved Pope, the only one I ever knew, is now still so fresh that I cannot hear JPII's recorded voice without tears welling up in my eyes. However, I knew we were somehow 'safe' again when I saw the man the liberals feared the most step into the light! What a great memory.

Posted by: S at Apr 19, 2007 1:56:54 PM

I was interviewing for a job in Rome, GA. The interview hadn't gone particularly well, and I was out to lunch with the hiring committee. We were in a sports bar, and it was clear that a pope had been elected, but from where I was sitting I couln't see or hear the TV well enough.

I didn't get the job, and since I'm a single Catholic man, I like to think of that as the day I didn't get either job I was might have gotten in Rome.

Posted by: pritcher at Apr 19, 2007 2:40:59 PM

I was sitting in my living room watching every minute of what had started unfolding in Rome at John Paul's death.

My most vivid memory is of hearing the "J" and then "oseph". I knew right then that it was Ratzinger and started wondering what kind of impact he would have, considering all the bad things I had heard about him.
Already I was beginning to doubt the worst of what I heard because of how he conducted himself during the funeral. And then when he came onto the balcony, he smiled so big and was so soft-spoken - you just knew he couldn't be the villain as portrayed.

Posted by: Julia at Apr 19, 2007 2:43:23 PM

I'll never forget that day for a number of reasons.

I was at work and I had EWTN up on my computer in one corner and the chimney cam from CNN up in the other.

My boss is also Catholic and had the chimney cam up as well. His office is next to mine. So the smoke begins and we are talking through the walls.

"It's turning white!" I say.

"Good grief, no it's not, I'm going to get lunch." He leaves the office.

Not even 15 seconds after the office door closed the bells begin. I run to catch him before he gets in the elevator. Too late.

Fortunately he came back just in time. We both embarassed ourselves by shouting out loud (and them me bursting into tears) when Benedict was announced.

I was really convinced that it was going to be a more liberal member of the Cardinals. Everyone kept telling me to trust in the Holy Spirit and I definitely learned that lesson on that magnificent day :)

Posted by: kathleen at Apr 19, 2007 2:44:59 PM

I was dancing around my office with CNN blaring, with the secretaries wondering what was going on.

Posted by: Patrick Kinsale at Apr 19, 2007 2:45:36 PM

I second Amy's recommendation of reading Zadock's comments on the linked blog.

Posted by: Kathleen at Apr 19, 2007 2:56:08 PM

Amen to that.

I still vividly recall watching the coverage of the Benedict's election.

The previous two days had been horrific, as we spent Sunday (the 17th) loading a moving van with all the stuff from our old house, then, after about an hour and a half of sleep that night and seeing the closing on the new house almost go awry at the last minute, spent Monday (the 18th) moving into our new place.

By the time that day was over, just about all my energy was spent. You know when you're really uber-tired - to the point where you start speaking a sentence and then find yourself mumbling? That was me.

The next day, I got to work - late, of course - and a few hours later we got the news of the bells and smoke.

We all congregated around a TV in our office, and I saw the smoke and heard the bells myself. All of a sudden, the beauty of it all hit me, and tears welled up in my eyes.

For most of the previous days, I had been preoccupied with things of this world, and had put my interior life on the back burner for a while. The election of a new pope -- and not just any pope, but beloved Cardinal Ratzinger! -- was exactly what I needed to regain my bearings.

Posted by: John Jansen at Apr 19, 2007 3:18:50 PM

I was in the editorial office of the diocesan newspaper for which I am a reporter.

It was Tuesday, which is our deadline day. And when a fellow reporter called out, "I think we've got white smoke," it was at about 11 a.m., right when our front page and connecting pages (those pages on which articles on the front page are continued) are being laid out.

Well, needless to say, everything that we had planned to do up to that point was scrapped. I was proofreading pages while standing in front of a TV.

I remember calling my wife, who was at home with, at the time, our three-year-old and one-year-old sons. When she picked up, all I said was, 'We've got white smoke,' to which she replied, 'Oh...OH!' Then she took the boys downstairs and watched history.

I can remember Fr. Tom Reese, who was serving as an expert at the time on some television network, saying in his kind of flat, monotone voice, "It's Ratzinger," right after the cardinal who made the announcement say, "Josephum!"

Later, around 1 p.m., I wondered aloud about getting local reaction and my editor had me jump on it. Through various phone interviews, I put that story together really fast.

Go here to see the handiwork that I and my colleagues put together for the entire month of April: issues that covered the John Paul's death, his funeral, Benedict's election and Benedict's installation.

The evening after the election, my family and I went to the house of a colleague and his wife to celebrate. My colleague and I went out to get some Benedictine liqueur, but when we found out it was going to be more than $40 for a bottle, we got some relatively cheap German wine.

Hey, we work for the Church. What are you going to do?

Posted by: Sean Gallagher at Apr 19, 2007 3:20:33 PM

I wanted to fly over for the funeral, but time, local responsibilities, and cost stood in the way. So then I calculated mourning days, probable conclave start and length, and made an advance booking. I arrived in Rome on Sunday 17th.

For both work and joy, I get to Rome often, but had never been to the white-smoke vigil. I knew that enormous truths about our international Church would be more evident than ever.

On Monday and from early Tuesday (19th), I walked over to St Peter’s square at each time that the ballots were to be burned – at least according to the scratchy cnn reception at hotel, massive coverage in local papers, and the wisdom of Romans hashing it out at every bar.

At the east end of Conciliazione (by the river) there was this enormous bleacher-like set up, with world media. What an adrenaline rush! Then, upon approaching the square, on Sunday and each day to follow, at the point where Italian state and Vatican state meet, along the chain fence that completes the Bernini colonnade, were aligned reps from every media outfit imaginable. Alessio Vinci was continually there with a couple of CNN staffers and camera as they staked out middle point for my favorite network. I was particularly taken by the seated producer who was always talking on 2 phones, yelling at other media to keep to their own turf, joke with Alessio, chew gum, and sip from a cup that never seemed to empty. Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC, local affiliates of stations from New Zealand to Quebec and from Rio to Moscow were all lined along there, all holding up makeshift signs asking for people from their area or at least their language to be interviewed. It was all great fun, and all felt the sense that this was as big as history gets.

So, on Tuesday late afternoon I was hanging around the CNN zone, to see what was up,
and bumped into Ray Flynn, whom I know as a fellow Bostonian. He was looking for the network that had asked him to drop by. The square was about ½ full, something like for the Easter urbi et orbi. Just at that moment, a roar started from the crowd, Ray and I peered into the CNN team. Alessio grabbed binocs and kept yelling “I think it’s white”. Miss Producer was standing and lurching into 3 phones. I was sure it was at least “whiter” than the times before. Then we all started saying to each other, well, where are the bells? None yet. Note to self, if this is white, I might want to cross into Vatican part of square and get closer to balcony. Note forgotten, as we all excitedly yelled about white and grey, timing, and silent bells. As producer yelled, give us air time now; I don't care about commercials! Turned around and Ray was gone. Poor wife, she always followed him and I could see her struggling at mid distance to hold onto him. My God, I said, look at Conciliazione. No Ray, but a once wide street was now a huge concourse of people racing at me and beyond to where I should be.

Deeper to the square, past the crowd of sisters who had been singing and now were dancing, up to a few feet from the balcony itself, craning neck up. I noted that I was by a bunch of sems from North American College, and a few of their buddies from France. They decided right there and then that it had to be Ratzinger (given timing) and that he would pick “Benedict”. – because no one for centuries would dare pick John- Paul again, nor Paul nor John. Since Pius was so controversial, no the new one would reach back to just before the 2 Pius popes; yes, Benedetto...and how shall we chant it? Those guys started figuring out the chant and claps that would greet a new Benedetto. Meanwhile, we felt a crush from the rear, saw square and streets and rooftops and balconies overflowing, were carried in joy by bells ringing now everywhere, and could not stop craning at immobile drapes.

Finally, there was the cardinal, the processional cross, the state bands cuing up to the right, a pile of monsignori at ground level under the balcony, cardinals on side balconies. We all knew each other – in English, French, Italian, Polish, Chinese – we all felt that this was how the world-wide church went through its shift in leadership, its gift of shepherds. We could not think of anything so linear, just feel enormous emotions of a world celebrating its unity.

Well, of course, it was Benedetto, and the NAC men were right, and the chants began and filled the square.

Then, over. But how leave the square? Hundreds of thousands were still pouring into it. And we wanted to turn and exit, to some imagined empty restaurant table. One and half hours to ease our way from the square and through alleys and lesser-known streets to get back to the other side of the river, and the eateries near piazza Navona. Incredibly, I had beaten the crowd and secured a table at the back room of a favorite steak house . All Romans there, all excited. Then, a mere 3 hours after the drapes parted, a newspaper vendor appeared in the room passing out free copies of the special edition. The Rome paper had done the unimaginable, edited and printed an edition filled with Benedict XVI and delivered them down the alleys and into my back room! And there was the Roman headline – “We have a new bishop!” So, this was an international event. But the square was filled and neighboring streets grid-locked with abandoned smart cars and buses because Romans wanted to greet their new bishop! Of course, and so from the center of party life in that city, we all ate steak and praised God for a new bishop of the city that lets its bishop be, well, papa, pope! Holy Father indeed! Pass the grappa, please.

Posted by: Tom Ryan at Apr 19, 2007 5:26:28 PM

For both work and joy, I get to Rome often, but had never been to the white-smoke vigil. I knew that enormous truths about our international Church would be more evident than ever.

So, on Tuesday late afternoon I was hanging around the CNN zone, to see what was up,
and bumped into Ray Flynn, whom I know as a fellow Bostonian. He was looking for the network that had asked him to drop by. The square was about ½ full, something like for the Easter urbi et orbi. Just at that moment, a roar started from the crowd, Ray and I peered into the CNN team. Alessio grabbed binocs and kept yelling “I think it’s white”. Miss Producer was standing and lurching into 3 phones. I was sure it was at least “whiter” than the times before. Then we all started saying to each other, well, where are the bells? None yet. Note to self, if this is white, I might want to cross into Vatican part of square and get closer to balcony. Note forgotten, as we all excitedly yelled about white and grey, timing, and silent bells. Turned around and Ray was gone. Poor wife, she always followed him and I could see her struggling at mid distance to hold onto him. My God, I said, look at Conciliazione. No Ray, but a once wide street was now a huge concourse of people racing at me and beyond to where I should be.

Deeper to the square, past the crowd of sisters who had been singing and now were dancing, up to a few feet from the balcony itself, craning neck up. I noted that I was by a bunch of sems from North American College, and a few of their buddies from France. They decided right there and then that it had to be Ratzinger (given timing) and that he would pick “Benedict”. – because no one for centuries would dare pick John- Paul again, nor Paul nor John. Since Pius was so controversial, no the new one would reach back to just before the 2 Pius popes; yes, Benedetto...and how shall we chant it. Those guys started figuring out the chant and claps that would greet a new Benedetto. Meanwhile, we felt a crush from the rear, saw square and streets and rooftops and balconies overflowing, were carried in joy by bells ringing now everywhere, and could not stop craning at immobile drapes.

Well, of course, it was Benedetto, and the NAC men were right, and the chants began and filled the square.

Posted by: Tom Ryan at Apr 19, 2007 6:23:07 PM

I was sitting in my car, with my wife, on my way to the train station to go to work. I remember we pulled over to the curb to listen to the announcement, and we were both very happy.

Unlike most of the people in our part of the world, who were very unhappy.

But they are happier now, two years later, realizing that the sky did not fall, the Church did not fall apart, and the Hounds of the Vatican did not attack.

And we are still very happy!

Posted by: Old Zhou at Apr 19, 2007 6:37:37 PM

I was sitting in my living room and saw it on CNN. I was surprised and then upset. "No, it cannot be Ratzinger".

Now I am an Benedict admirer. All it took was reading his works. I started with the Spirit of the Liturgy. I fell on my knees, humbled by his clarity and profound spiritual view.

Bless me Holy Father, for I was wrong about you.

Kevin in Atlanta

Posted by: Kevin in Atlanta at Apr 19, 2007 7:00:58 PM

I live in the country and I was at work in the small town 20 miles north of my home. I got a telephone call from home... "white smoke"! I hopped in my car and (carefully?!) raced home hoping to get there in time... my own version of the Romans' dash to the square. Got home in time. A great day for the Church.

Posted by: John at Apr 19, 2007 7:05:03 PM

I remember getting almost giddy when I heard the announcement. I was still an Episcopalian at the time, and I remarked to my Catholic girlfriend: "Well, s#$t! Now I have to become a Catholic!"

..and I did.

Posted by: Chris Molter at Apr 19, 2007 7:19:37 PM

Mine isn't quite as edifying - I was actually asleep when the announcement happened (fifth month of pregnancy, and I was soooo tired). I got up very late, grabbed something to drink, turned on the computer, and saw a CNN headline along the lines of "Cardinal Ratzinger Elected Pope Benedict XVI". And I swear, the first words out of my mouth were (calling to my husband) "Hey, the new Pope took our name!" (We had had our 20-week ultrasound the week before, and had determined at that time that we were having a little boy whose name would be Daniel Benedict).

I was very happy for the choice nonetheless :). (And if Daniel thinks he was middle-named after the Pope - as everyone at our church assumed - that's no bad thing).

Posted by: Sonetka at Apr 19, 2007 7:27:11 PM

Thanks for the reminder, Amy. I was especially fortunate to have been studying in Rome during the emotional roller-coaster days of the transition between John Paul II and Benedict XVI. From sadness through the funeral, then looking ahead to the days of the conclave, and finally the "truly Catholic" moment of the announcement that, yes, "we have a pope". I especially recall standing in the Piazza San Pietro following Benedict's first address, listening to the bells pealing. On hearing Benedict's name announced, I had definite misgivings, remembering the tensions existing back home among US Catholics. But there came a moment when I nodded to myself, renewing my trust in the Holy Spirit Who was surely at work even then, with twilight falling on the Piazza.

Posted by: pilgrim_person at Apr 19, 2007 8:38:39 PM

Kevin, Apparently, we are souls in union! I had the same reaction to Joseph Ratzinger being elected. Then, I very "cleverly" listened to my 15 year old daughter. Out of the mouths of babes! She said, "Have faith. You really don't know anything about him. The Church is eternal, and the Cardinals probably know more than you." I read, starting at a much lower level than you, Kevin. My starting point was "Salt of the Earth". I could not believe that this was the same man about whom I had heard that he was "stern, uncaring, unkind". I have since been reading other works of the Holy Father, and must confess, I was a FOOL! Thank God for this man, this pope. God forgive me, I was wrong (again). God Bless and keep you, Holy Father, and grant you wisdom (appears He has done this already--don't know how He managed without my input!), good health, and long life. Viva Il Papa!!

Posted by: marymargaret at Apr 19, 2007 8:55:20 PM

Two years ago today I had no idea I was viewing on TV my most significant friend I'll never meet.

And there I stood obsessing that he'd played into the hands of St. Malachy by taking the name Benedict.

Posted by: Susan Fischer at Apr 19, 2007 8:56:22 PM

My husband and I were on pilgrimage in Lourdes and had gone back to our room at the Elisio to rest. We turned on the TV and saw Cardinal Medina's announcement. We were thrilled. As always, Catholics were in Lourdes from all parts of the world and having a new Holy Father after feeling a bit like orphans intensified the sense of being part of one family in Christ. At the times, there were touching photos of John Paul II's last visit to Lourdes displayed along the walkways.

Posted by: Judy at Apr 19, 2007 8:59:32 PM

I was in my office watching the piazza from a little tiny window on my computer. I saw the bells ring, looked at my watch (it was about 11am - 6pm Rome time) and I figured they were just ringing the Angelus. Then, the white smoke came and Fr. Neuhaus cut off Raymond Arroyo, who was rambling on about something. "Raymond, I think this is for real..." or something like that. I ran downstairs to the living room of the rectory (no longer the priests' residence) and turned on the television (which was never used) I went to each office and announced that they were about to announce the new pope. The staff gathered around. All were excited about the posssibilities. One woman said, "Thank [Goodness] it's not Ratzinger." She had been assured by Fr. McBrien on another channel. I kept looking at my watch, I had the noon Mass and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to stay for the final announcement. Excitement built. The curtains parted and the cardinal came out (wasn't it Ruini?) He greeted the people in so many languages - the last of which was English - Annuntio Vobis Magnam Gaudiam - Habemus Papam - Emminentissismum, ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Iosephum -- I jumped up (in the least dignified manner) and called out: "It's Ratzinger" The woman who didn't want that promptly left the room before letting the Cardinal finish his announcement. The pastor kind of stood there stunned, the rest of the staff was either stunnded or simply didn't know what was going on - none others were excited. I was so excited, but i had to get to the sacristy to vest for Mass. On my way out the rectory - I was walking on air - I ran into our Cameroonese maintenance man - I shared my joy with him - he was excited too. I went to Mass and before I began - "Habemus Papam!" and explained the news to those who had come - they must have wondered why I was so excited. I will remember that day for the rest of my life! How awesome it was! How fortunate we are!

Posted by: Father Totton at Apr 19, 2007 10:02:22 PM

At the time, I was watching the events of JPII's death and funeral on CNN only with mild interest. I wasn't paying much attention; I had slipped away from the Church years ago and barely noticed John Paul in the years he was Pope. So when the new Pope was announced on April 19, 2005, I was at work and didn't even know it had occurred until I got home and turned on my TV. The evening news replayed the tape of Pope Benedict stepping out onto the logia and his first words. I instantly liked his face at first sight even though I didn't know anything about him. In the days and weeks that followed, I developed a curiosity about Benedict which lead me to discover his writings which I began reading with interest. I decided to return to my Catholic roots which had laid dormant for a long time, all because of Papa Benedict. God bless him!

Posted by: Rivendell at Apr 19, 2007 10:26:27 PM

I was a college sophomore (at a very secular school) on a break between classes, walking through the student center. My mom called me to say, "The smoke turned white! They picked someone!" and I ran like a fool to the nearest TV, stood under it with my hands on my head and my heart in my throat, and waited while the students around me cast curious sideways glances at me. I waited under that TV for the rest of my break and into my next class (American history or the first papal election of my lifetime? No contest) to hear who it would be.

I didn't know much about Ratzinger when his name was called, but I remember feeling the huge significance of the moment and being so grateful that I was able to "be there", as much as a kid in Delaware can be, watching him come out and listening to his first address -- the students near by me probably all thought I was a little nuts, but there were thousands of other people around the world who were just as caught up as I was.

Posted by: Andie C at Apr 19, 2007 11:45:18 PM