News

“Is that white smoke?” I asked Br. Gabriel Brands, OSB, as we watched the “chimney stream” from Vatican News in the monastery’s recreation room. I entered shortly after Mass to see if smoke, white or black, was billowing out from the chimney set atop the Sistine Chapel. There was not much excitement for the first few minutes. But quickly, three birds settled atop the roof and began captivating both local and international attention. Moments later, the white smoke began to pour out of the chimney, and we knew that the College of Cardinals had elected the next Holy Father and successor of St. Peter. Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, OSB, was one of the first monks to join us as he received a phone call from Fr. Israel Sanchez, OSB, a Mount Angel monk studying in Rome and standing in St. Peter’s Square, sharing that a new pope had been elected.

Monks began filing into the recreation room as we shared in the energy and excitement of those present in Rome. Archbishop Richard Smith, the archbishop-designate for the Archdiocese of Vancouver in Canada, was also one of the first to watch the coverage with the monks. He was making his pre-installation retreat in the monastery and mentioned that he was present in St. Peter’s Square for the last papal election in 2013. The interlude between the white smoke and the announcement of the new pope lasted about 40 minutes, but it felt much longer with the eagerness to hear who will be guiding the Church next as the “servant of the servants of God.” The joy present in St. Peter’s Square was palpable, and monks noted how international and young those present were. Some monks, myself included, tried to ascertain which country’s flags were being waved by the faithful in Rome.

At long last, Cardinal Mamberti made his way out on the loggia to announce the new Holy Father. The name Prevost was said, and monks began confirming with one another that they heard it correctly. We began to realize that the first American pope had just been elected. Some monks began searching for more information about Cardinal Prevost online while others began thinking back to Pope Leo XIII and what his papacy meant for the Church and the world at the dawn of the 20th century. Both Abbot Jeremy and Archbishop Smith have met Pope Leo XIV and had encouraging words to describe their interactions. As we listened to Pope Leo’s first address, Abbot Jeremy translated his opening words in Italian for the monks. The word “pace” or “peace” was used many times during his initial address. We realized that Fr. Michael Shrum, OSB, would be the first priest in the monastery to say Pope Leo’s name in the Eucharistic Prayer at the conventual Mass the following day. As the address concluded, we received the blessing of Pope Leo XIV and returned to various places across the Hilltop with a spirit of joy and thanksgiving to almighty God for the 267th Vicar of Christ.

—Br. Alexander Delsman