Charlotte seminarians were there when Pope Leo XIV was announced
VATICAN CITY — Three seminarians from the Diocese of Charlotte – John Harrison, Gabriel Lugo and Ronan Ostendorf – have been studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome since last fall. Along with other once-in-a-lifetime experiences, they had the opportunity to be at St. Peter’s Square when Pope Leo XIV was announced. Here are their reflections on that historic moment.
'White smoke all around me'
“Unsure as to how long it would be before we got white smoke, I walked up to the square packed with people and was immediately surrounded by shouts and cries of joy as I heard “Fumo bianco!” and “White smoke!” all around me.
I looked up and saw it. As shocked as everyone else, I stood there staring at it, but then I realized there was about to be a stampede of people coming in, so I quickly found the security entrance and got through. That was the first shock. As I made my way closer to the church, I found a group of PNAC seminarians that I could stand with. When the Cardinal announced “Anuncio Vobis Gaudium Magnum,” the crowd went wild with an initial cheer certainly filling the area. But after all this anticipation, he said “Habemus Papam!” and the whole square roared with an explosion of cheer and rejoicing.
The only thing better than witnessing this, was participating in it. Next, we quickly learned that this pope was an American! and at that point it felt unreal; like a crazy fantasy that we would have never dreamt of coming true. Then after barely being able to hear the cardinal from all the cheers, I heard my buddies repeating “he chose Leo XIV!” and this was the third major shock that made this something that felt too good to be true.
But it was true, and seeing him come out and give the Urbi et Orbi blessing was the culmination of it all, filling the air with joy and excitement, but with an undertone of rest and relief that we now had him. This was such a blessing to experience.”
— John Harrison
'It was surreal'
“The joy and love for the new pope were palpable even before he walked out on the balcony. The joy was an intense and deeply Catholic joy. When we realized that he is an American, we were dumbfounded... No one thought it would be an American. It was surreal.
The Italians seemed somewhat disappointed not to have an Italian pope, and a few people seemed offended. But there was still a strong expression of affection for the new pontiff as the Vicar of Christ on Earth.”
— Ronan Ostendorf
'I felt the shock that there was a new pope'
“Due to our Easter break, I was away from Rome when I heard the news of the passing of the Holy Father. However, I gathered with a small group of seminarians whom I was with to pray the office of the dead for him. We made plans to return to Rome in order to pay our respects as he lay in state in St Peter’s and attend his funeral, and it meant a good deal to be present for these events for two reasons: since I live in Rome, he is my bishop, and since I had the opportunity to meet him last fall, I felt that I had a closer connection to him as my father. I was grateful to have the opportunity to be present for these events which is one of the unique graces of living in Rome.
"When I went down to St. Peter’s Square Thursday evening to wait for the smoke, I was impressed by the excitement prevalent among those present. There were people from all over the world speaking many languages and yet we were all united in expectation of the election of the Holy Father. When the white smoke came out from the chimney, I felt the shock that there was a new pope. I, in my first year, with others in their fourth year, were all deeply affected by the news of a new Holy Father.
"An American pope, too, yet not only we Americans but the universal church represented in the square were filled with an enthusiasm impossible to describe and yet shared by so many all over the world. Once more I was astonished that I should be present for this momentous event, the continuance of the Apostolic Church through Peter’s line.”
— Gabriel Lugo. Photos provided