Habemus Papam!

M. Virginia Southworth
May 8
3 min read

Great excitement in Alaska this morning as I headed out to church. I heard on the radio that the new Pope would be announced shortly.

I drove my cousin's truck to Saint Andrew's church in Eagle River. They have a lovely parish there. As I was walking into the church, I looked up, and saw a bird on top of the steeple.

Workmen are working on the roof.

A sweet, older lady named Rita told me that they ran out of money to complete the parish hall and other parts of the church. It is a huge church. I am sure one day they will have more stained glass windows. There are three small round ones right now. I was asking Rita where the "narthex" was. She strikes me as a very intelligent lady. Rita explained that they do not have a parish hall yet. Therefore, they would be using the narthex for the Marian Tea this weekend.

The "Narthex" is an early Christian term for the Western part of a Christian church between the main entrance and the nave. It is a welcome area to gather before and after Mass - an interface between the church and the world.

Narthex comes from the Greek word for "scourge". It is where penitents and catechumens worshiped before they completed their orientation or reorientation as it might be. When completed, they would worship in the church nave.

So on this day, May 8th, 2025 a new Pope has been elected. I walked into the narthex, and there was a large gathering of the daily, faithful communicants. Father had the TV on - EWTN. He said that we would have Mass once they announced who the new Pope would be.

Great excitement filled the area. Immediately I felt a part of something much larger than myself.

I saw the sexton go through the prayer cards of all the cardinals drawn in charcoal. These are the candidates - the conclave. The janitor selected three whom he thought were potential candidates. I saw those holy cards there the other day. I just took one for a bookmark and I decided that I would pray for the one that I took - not realizing what they were there for.

The men working on the roof were told not to begin work until after 9:30. The janitor went over to the glass door and he was wiping some smudge marks off. He sits up front during Mass. Of course, when Mass began, the hammering on the roof began too.

Father Arthur was trying to adjust the volume on the TV. Another priest was visiting as his niece is making her First Holy Communion this weekend.

And then, it was announced. Excitement filled the air. I watched Father Arthur repeat Cardinal Prevost - an Augustinian. "He is American by birth, but culturally, South American from where he has served."

We saw the American flags waving wildly in Saint Peter's Square. I was overcome. This was unexpected, and then - to see His Eminence, I mean "His Holiness" come out on the balcony, I was struck by his humble demeanor. He looked like he was choking back emotion. I like his face. He looks like a kindly man. He is 69 years of age - a good age for the papacy.

Then it occurred to me, why he is the same one on my charcoal print holy card! I like that he prayed to Our Lady - in English!