image from KTLA 5 Los Angeles news

As I came into the house from my snow shoveling induced fog I saw that the smoke had lifted……or rather…the smoke was white.  What that meant for millions of people who were following around the world was that the moment had arrived finally—a new Pope had been chosen and soon would be announced.  I peeled off my layers, brewed a cuppa and sat down to watch the big reveal.  And what a wonderful reveal it was to watch the lights go on in the room behind the balcony and to see figures walking around getting ready .   A day like this is not to be forgotten.

While I am not Catholic it does not matter one bit because today, my friends, history was made.   The new Pope, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina is breaking historic ground by choosing the name Francis.  It has never been used before and is the name of one of the most revered –Saint Francis of Assisi.   CNN Vatican expert, John Allen, was quoted as saying that the name symbolizes “poverty, humility, simplicity and rebuilding the Catholic Church.”

Reading and listening to all of the commentary on television it appears that this is the right man for the job.  The Catholic church has suffered much as of late and it will need a strong but gentle leader.  I loved that he asked the masses of people there to pray for him before he continued.  He showed his humility by bowing before them to receive their prayers.  What an important symbol that was and an example of how he is going to lead.

There is hope in the world today—I think that sometimes it is so easy to lose track of that fact and focus on all the negativity and sadness that permeates our lives.  But there is so much more!!!  So much more!  Hope is a feeling of expectation and usually that expectation is towards something positive and up lifting.  How can we live in a world if we have no hope???  It is impossible for me to understand how one exists without hope.

I have nothing more to add to all the news about the new Pope other than to say that I am hopeful as are millions of others.  Hopeful that he will be able to lead with a gentle but at the same time firm hand—embracing all and giving a sense of renewed hope to all.