When the white smoke came out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, I had the Vatican News TV station's YouTube channel open on one tab, while I continued with my updates to Fratelli Tutti on another. Like many, I really wasn't expecting the election to end so early. I had got it into my mind that it would definitely go to five ballots, and actually, probably more. Thus, it was only when I heard the Vatican News presenter exclaim, It's white smoke! That I switched tabs and saw what was happening.
As for Cardinal Prevost, he was one of the papabile but I have to admit I didn't have him down as one of the main candidates. For one thing, he is American born (he may have duel US-Peruvian citizenship but I don't know) and I had read that an American will never be elected to the papacy because of the USA's dominant position in the world. Secondly, Prevost had been caught up in the clerical sexual abuse scandal.
As for Leo's American background, I had failed to absorb something else I had read and heard: that cardinals don't care about passports now. They are primarily interested in the man. This is very good news indeed. In regards the clerical sexual abuse scandals, Crux answers that issue as it relates to the pope here.
What kind of pope will Leo be? Time will tell, but the following surely provide a hint.
1. Choice of Name
At the moment, we don't know which Leo the new pope is honouring, but I would be extremely surprised if it was not Leo XIII, the pope who wrote Rerum Novarum, the encyclical that stood up for workers' rights. As it happens Rerum Novarum celebrates its 134th birthday on 15th May so we now have two great reasons to read it. I certainly will be. His Augustinian background will make him a missionary pope so we can look forward to a lot of traveling. He is also a very experienced administrator, which the Vatican needs due to its financial difficulties.
2. Choice of Clothing
If you watched the pope emerge onto the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica yesterday afternoon, you would have noticed him wearing a mozzetta - a red shoulder cape. As you can see below, following his election in 2013, Francis opted not to do so, preferring to simplify his attire as much as possible. Leo, therefore, is returning to papal sartorial tradition. This presumably means that other traditions that Francis dispensed with will also make a return. Or will they? Will we see Leo wear the pope's red shoes, settle in the papal apartment, maybe even wear the camauro? That might be a step too far, but again, we'll see. The mozzetta, however, clearly indicates his respect for traditional aspects of the papacy if nothing else.
By the way, in the image below, you'll note that Francis is not wearing a stole. That's because he only put it on when he needed to: at the blessing of the people in St. Peter's Square (and at home).
For reference, here is Pope Benedict wearing the camauro.
So, there we are. We have a pope! Now, we wait to see what kind of papacy he intends to live out for the duration of his incumbency. What an exciting time!
God Bless the Pope; let's pray for him today.
Francis and Leo Side-by-Side: USA Today
Benedict's Camauro: Herald-Tribune
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