A few minutes after six p.m. (Rome time), the white smoke rose like the answer to 1.1 billion prayers into the Vatican sky. The pious looked on, eyes trained on the balcony as the bells echoed and re-echoed in St. Martin's Basilica. Perhaps 20 minutes later, Cardinal Medina stepped onto the balcony and announced in his quiet, powerful voice, "Habmum papus!"
We were then introduced to Joseph Ratzinger. The new pope. Pope Benedict XVII.
I was filled with a happiness only God could...
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