VATICAN CITY (CBS) – Pope Francis I is beginning the first day of his new life as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The experience Wednesday was unforgettable.
Our photographer Aaron Strader, producer Ken Tucci and I were working on our story for the 5 p.m. News when we looked at the live feed of the Sistine Chapel chimney.
White smoke!
We bolted.
Like everyone in Rome, it seemed, we ran into St. Peter’s Square to be there for the announcement.
We waited for more than an hour for Cardinal Deacon Tauran from France to read the name.
That announcement was all in Latin.
But I understood “Bergoglio.”
The crowd buzzed about the choice for a few more minutes (he was not mentioned much in the Italian press before the conclave) before we saw Pope Francis I for the first time.
For almost two minutes, he looked out over the crowd, Kevin Joyce, a seminarian, told me he believes the pope was praying. And when he spoke, the crowd cheered.
It was a thrilling experience and very beautiful.
We were hoping to talk with Cardinal Sean O’Malley, but he stayed at the Vatican hotel.
We did go to New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s press conference. He seems thrilled with the choice the cardinals made.
Pope Francis will celebrate mass with the College of Cardinals at noon (Boston time)Thursday, while we are on live in our noon newscast.
