habemus papam

pope john paul ii reigned for so long i thought i'd never get to witness another conclave after that which instituted pope benedict xvi to papacy. when pope benedict xvi was elected, i was 17 years old. having had no funds to travel to rome for such occasion, i watched the conclave intently on television not wishing to miss a single moment of that historical event.

as with many others, it came as a shock to me when pope benedict xvi decided to resign (like, he can do that?!). so eight years later here i am, still no funds to travel to rome (haha), watching and waiting for the white smoke to signal the election of another pope.

finally, habemus papam. we have a new pope ^__^

perhaps the church is not immune to politics (in the negative sense) but i would like to continue believing whatever happens inside a conclave is blessed by God. and the miracle and awe is still not lost to me the moment the white smoke came out.

pope francis i. his election reminds me of king david, youngest of the sons of jesse, who was not originally presented as a candidate for the throne. like him, fr. jorge mario bergoglio was not among the rumored papabile (top contenders for papacy).

i like the "francis" too. whenever i hear "st. francis de assisi" i am reminded of a young man in brown robes with a balding head, the man giving bread to the poor, and stigmata. all these from a picture book we had when we were young. st. francis was the champion of the poor. perhaps pope francis i is also trying to be one. another image that would come to mind whenever i hear "st. francis" would be of a large stained mirror inscribed with the prayer of st. francis on my grandparents' wall.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

it should be fitting, then, that on his first night of papacy, i will pray this for him.