Tens of thousands of faithful crowded in the Plaza de San Pedro exchanged confused when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was announced as Pope on the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro.
They knew the Cardinals Pizza Balla and Parolin and Tagle. But Premost?
Some people with cell phone reception began to search online when the news got into the crowd.
“I think they have just chosen an American Pope,” said Nicole Serena, 21, a student who is in Rome studying marketing.
Wait, an American?
Some faces fell.
“Maybe it’s a good guy?” Catalina Zaza, 27, said an Argentine art student in Rome who had been supporting Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle de Filipinas to succeed Pope Francis. “We don’t know.”
Little an hour before, when the white smoke had begun to undulate the chimney on the Sixtine chapel, the crowd exploded for joy. “Habemus Papam!” The faithful shouted.
Some people hugged. Others raised their hands to rejoice in prayer. Some briefly sang the Italian national anthem. The crowds advanced towards the basilica, packed firmly inside the barricades, to know who the new Pope would be.
Once it was announced, like Pope Leo XIV, the crowd began to sing, at first something timidly: “Dad Leone!”
Then, Leo came out.
People in the Plaza Chilló with joy.
“Peace be with you,” he said in Italian.
Only once Leo paid tribute to Pope Francis, many of the gathering seem to relax. Mrs. Zaza and her friend Sofía Basanes, 30, also from Argentina, began to nod with the calls of the new Pope for peace, justice, dialogue and love. Next to them, a young priest sobbed, and the eyes of an older nun shine with tears.
And when Leo was used to speaking in Spanish, the crowd was applauded enthusiastic. “Hello, he lived in Peru!” A man shouted in Spanish. “Peruuuu!”
Leo did not speak in English or mention the United States.
In the end, Mrs. Basanes was crying, along with enough others around her. “We have so much faith in the legacy of Pope Francis,” he said.
Mrs. Zaza, standing by her, added: “At first, I suspected a little, I knew it. But now, I think it’s good.”
“I Think it’s Good, The Fact that he’s an American,” She Added, “Besta in This Moment When there’s a big figure like Trump in the government, maybe I have create Bridge Betaevers and, and Don’s World a World a World a World a World a World a World, “” “” “” “
Not everyone agreed.
“I am surprised and a little disappointed,” said Adam Mocarski, 31, who had traveled to Rome from Poland. “We all know about Donald Trump and Elon Musk.”
Fabio Vagnarelli, a 42 -year -old Roman actor, said he was waiting for an Asian Pope. His mother -in -law, Aurora de Rubeis, 75, a teacher retired, said he was waiting for an Italian.
After listening to Leo, Mr. Vagnarelli said he was impressed by the message of the new Pope. Leo’s first words said: “Very human, very empathic, very emotional.”
Two radiant Americans, Sean Sikora, from Oklahoma, and Cole Wendling, of Texas, grabbed an American flag when the strangers congratulated them. “You won today,” a tall man shouted on a Canadian flag, a roar of the good heart of the crowd.
“From the crowd, there is a lot of love in the legs, a lot of joy,” said Mr. Wendling, 29, such as songs or “United States! Use!
Matthew Mpoke Bigg” Rico Motoko” Bernhard Warner and Josephine de la Bruyère Contributed reports.
