My
producer Matt and I got to the piazza on Monday, April 18, about
5pm.
In the last 2 weeks, I'd spent countless hours here. Praying for John
Paul II. Mourning his death. Seeing his procession. Being at his
funeral. And now this is the first day of the conclave. The first
chance to have a new Pope.
So we're all staring at the little chimney on top of the Sistine
Chapel. And unfortunately, the beauty of the outside of the Chapel
isn't exactly the same as the inside. In fact, it's just a boring roof
with a tin chimney.
Standing there, staring at this inanimate object, was very boring.
Thus, I gained a newfound respect for the people who have listened to
my radio show, or watched my tv show. I now understand what it's like
to wait for something exciting to happen - but always be
disappointed. Very frustrating.
Unlike my work, however, the wait here would be worth it. Or so I
hoped.
And as 7pm rolled around, we waited for the smoke. But it didn't come.
So we waited some more. And, like a joke that never reaches its
intended punch line (also something I know a great deal about), nothing
happened. 10 minutes. 30 minutes. 45 minutes. And nothing. So I kept
looking at my watch.
Not because I actually had anything else to do. But because looking at
my watch seems to give the appearance that I at least
had something else to do.
But the waiting also gave us a chance to reflect on what was happening
here...
Our cardinals, the Princes of the Church, had a rather daunting task:
to prayerfully be led by the Holy Spirit in electing the first Pope of
the 3rd Millennium. So I can see why it took some time.
And then we looked up. And it was smoke. WHITE SMOKE!!
Ok, so you can't tell in this picture, but it really WAS white smoke.
Vatican Radio even reported it was white smoke. White smoke! White
smoke! We have a Pope! On the first vote!
The crowd went crazy!
And then...black smoke. And more black smoke.
Vatican Radio reported the mistake. We don't have a Pope.
Suffice to say, we were less
than thrilled.
I guess we're coming back tomorrow...
