Habemus papam!

Cardinal Ratzinger was elected today as the new pope. Amy, JChan, Greenie, Pat, Emily, and I were eating at this delicious pizzeria in Trastevere when we saw on the restaurant television billowing smoke that we first assumed was black. Due to the ambiguity of the recent news reports, I was unsure whether the color was undoubtedly white. Also, there were no ringing of bells to sound the inception of the new pope. To our dismay, we realized later it was white smoke and we rushed out of the pizzeria, knocking over chairs, and trying to find a tram/bus that would take us to our destination. Unfortunately, the 23 was nowhere in sight, and when it came, it was packed tighter than a canister of sardines. We got off about 5 stops before Ottaviano and started jetting to St. Peter's. I was surprised by how packed the square was and it seemed as if throngs of people were appearing out of the blue; there is a magical quality surrounding this place, allowing Catholics and non-Catholics alike to gravitate towards its vicinity within a dearth of time. Finneagling our way through the crowd of anxious waiters, we found a good spot next to the obelisk to set up shop and take pictures. We waited for about thirty minutes, before the balcony window opened up. This release of tension was sounded off by loud rounds of applause and screams of joy...habemus papa announced the senior official. The new pope was Cardinal Ratzinger, Benedictus XVI. As we listened and watched him speak and bless the crowds, it felt like a communal celebration. People were glad that a new pope had assured the masses of a stable and conservative papacy for the next several years. His tag as a transition pope will probably hold true, but his ability to strengthen and regroup the church in the previous times of scandal and uncertainty, I believe will prove invaluable to the Catholic people. Then again, it is better to just not think about the prefigurations right now, and relish the moment...history is being made and I'm lucky to be here and be part of it. Rome maintains its eternity!