Blame it on Catholic school upbringing.
Since the 3rd grade, I got used to hearing Catholic school urban legends such as the white lady that walked in the Science Lab, because the school was built on top of a graveyard, and that the end of the world was looming due to the fact that the someone had predicted the last pope.
This was back in 1975, mind you. My classmate said there was a wall in the Vatican that had portraits of the Popes, and when that was filled up, it would trigger the end of the world.
Yesterday while watching CNN, I saw a picture of that legendary wall of portraits my classmate was talking about. So it was true! And it appeared to show two slots left!!
Does this mean, the new Pope is good and the next one will be the anti-pope that will usher in the end times?
Ever since Pope John Paul II died, it hurt so much. It felt like nobody could ever fill his shoes.
Since Pope Benedict XVIth stepped down last month, I’ve been scared of who will be the next Pope, so I’ve been glued to CNN, watching and waiting.
Black smoke means no Pope
Seagull means cuteness
Black smoke means no Pope
Yesterday I pretty much monitored the news over CNN or Twitter since I was in and out of the house the whole day. Got home at 8:30 PM and was so stressed I wanted to take a sleeping pill to get through the night.
Good thing I didn’t. I kept tossing and turning. Finally around 3 AM, I checked my phone and found a message from my friend Dolan: “WHITE SMOKE!”
I turned on the TV in the dark, shaking. I was really scared to see the new Pope. I was scared to see a doomsday countenance.
I woke up Jeroen. “There’s a new Pope!” I said.
Jeroen looked up from his sleep mask. “What nationality?” he asked.
“South American,” I mumbled.
He had the face of an angel, like a kind grandfather.
Jeroen went back to sleep.
And I was relieved, happy. On cloud nine. I prayed as he led the Our Father and Hail Mary in Italian.
They called him “an inspired choice.”
Just like Pope John Paul II, he wasn’t even among the Top 10 contenders.
His marked trait is humility and a deep concern for the poor. He gave up a car and chauffeur to commute, and he cooked his own meals.
I loved him on sight. And then I saw some Twitter hate and had to look away. I went to sleep.
The Pope is not a politician. He is not there to make promises, be popular, and please everyone. His job is to continue the teachings of the Church and be true to it, not deviate. So if you don’t like him, please, walang basagan ng trip.
Give him a chance. Pray for him if you do. Pray for us.
Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.