POPE LEO XIV
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Few (if any) Latin phrases are as famous as "Habemus Papam" -- we have a pope! For the Catholic Church and for the world, it's a delight to hear it.
But after this electrifying announcement, another man takes the spotlight: The newly elected Vicar of Christ.
While a newly elected pope must find himself overwhelmed the first time he looks down on his flock, and can't be expected to give a well prepared discourse, somehow the first words of recent popes have all become symbolic.
Take a look and (see video footage at the end of their greetings):
John Paul I1978
John Paul I came to pray the Sunday Angelus with the faithful on August 27, 1978, after he had been elected on the fourth ballot in a two-day conclave the day before.
This is what he said to those gathered in St. Peter's:
Yesterday morning I went to the Sistine Chapel to vote tranquilly. Never could I have imagined what was about to happen. As soon as the danger for me had begun, the two colleagues who were beside me whispered words of encouragement. One said: "Courage! If the Lord gives a burden, he also gives the strength to carry it." The other colleague said: "Don't be afraid; there are so many people in the whole world who are praying for the new Pope." When the moment of decision came, I accepted.
Then there was the question of the name, for they also ask what name you wish to take, and I had thought little about it. My thoughts ran along these lines: Pope John had decided to consecrate me himself in St Peter's Basilica, then, however unworthy, I succeeded him in Venice on the Chair of St Mark, in that Venice which is still full of Pope John. He is remembered by the gondoliers, the Sisters, everyone.
Then Pope Paul not only made me a Cardinal, but some months earlier, on the wide footbridge in St Mark's Square, he made me blush to the roots of my hair in the presence of 20,000 people, because he removed his stole and placed it on my shoulders. Never have I blushed so much!
Furthermore, during his fifteen years of pontificate this Pope has shown, not only to me but to the whole world, how to love, how to serve, how to labour and to suffer for the Church of Christ.
For that reason I said: "I shall be called John Paul." I have neither the "wisdom of the heart" of Pope John, nor the preparation and culture of Pope Paul, but I am in their place. I must seek to serve the Church. I hope that you will help me with your prayers.
John Paul II1978
When John Paul I died on September 28, the cardinals had to quickly reconvene amid the shock of the whole world.
By October 14, they were back in conclave, and Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was elected on the 8th ballot of a three-day conclave.
This is what the strong, youthful (58-year-old) new pope from Poland had to say:
Praise be to Jesus Christ.
Dear brothers and sisters,
We are still grieving after the death of our dearly beloved Pope John Paul I. And now the Eminent Cardinals have called a new bishop of Rome. They have called him from a distant country... distant, but always so close through communion in the Christian faith and tradition. I was afraid to accept this appointment, but I did so in the spirit of obedience to Our Lord Jesus Christ and with total trust in his Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
I don’t know if I can express myself well in your ... our Italian language. If I make a mistake, you will correct me. And so I present myself to all of you, to confess our common faith, our hope, our trust in the Mother of Christ and of the Church, and also to begin again on this path of history and of the Church, with the help of God and with the help of men.
Benedict XVI2005
By the time the 26-year pontificate of John Paul II had concluded, conclaves were a memory of a rather distant past. But, one thing was quite expected: the election of a faithful collaborator of the Polish Pope to succeed him.
Benedict XVI had been working in the Vatican for years already. In 1981, he had been named prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, and it was from that post that he was elected pope on the fourth ballot in a two-day conclave.
Here's what he told his flock:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
After the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord.
The fact that the Lord knows how to work and to act even with inadequate instruments comforts me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.
Let us move forward in the joy of the Risen Lord, confident of his unfailing help. The Lord will help us and Mary, his Most Holy Mother, will be on our side. Thank you.
Francis2013
Pope Francis' first thought was for Benedict XVI, who had retired and was the first pope in centuries to be alive to see his successor. And then, in an act commented hundreds of time afterward, he asked the faithful of Rome and the Church to pray for him, their new bishop:
Brothers and sisters, good evening!
You know that it was the duty of the Conclave to give Rome a Bishop. It seems that my brother Cardinals have gone to the ends of the earth to get one... but here we are... I thank you for your welcome. The diocesan community of Rome now has its Bishop. Thank you! And first of all, I would like to offer a prayer for our Bishop Emeritus, Benedict XVI. Let us pray together for him, that the Lord may bless him and that Our Lady may keep him.
[Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...]
And now, we take up this journey: Bishop and People. This journey of the Church of Rome which presides in charity over all the Churches. A journey of fraternity, of love, of trust among us. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world, that there may be a great spirit of fraternity. It is my hope for you that this journey of the Church, which we start today, and in which my Cardinal Vicar, here present, will assist me, will be fruitful for the evangelization of this most beautiful city.
And now I would like to give the blessing, but first - first I ask a favour of you: before the Bishop blesses his people, I ask you to pray to the Lord that he will bless me: the prayer of the people asking the blessing for their Bishop. Let us make, in silence, this prayer: your prayer over me.
[...]
Now I will give the Blessing to you and to the whole world, to all men and women of good will.
[Blessing]
Brothers and sisters, I leave you now. Thank you for your welcome. Pray for me and until we meet again. We will see each other soon. Tomorrow I wish to go and pray to Our Lady, that she may watch over all of Rome. Good night and sleep well!
