So like, I was just a kiddo, you know? Ten years old when Pope Francis became the big cheese in the Catholic Church. It was back on March 13, 2013, a Wednesday. Me and my pals from St. Pius X Catholic School in Urbandale, Iowa were at our usual mass when we heard the news. White smoke was coming out of the Vatican. A new Pope was in town.
I hustled home with my mom, and we switched on the TV. There I was, still in my school uniform, waiting to see who this new Pope was. Finally, Cardinal dude Jean-Louis Tauran popped out on the Vatican Balcony. “Habemus Papam!” he yelled. We got ourselves a new Pope. His name? Jorge Mario Bergoglio. His Pope name? Pope Francis. I remember watching him step out onto the balcony, waving to the crowd. Little did he know, he was also waving to a little Catholic kid from Iowa through the TV screen.
Before Pope Francis showed up, I didn’t know much about how they picked the Pope. It was a real eye-opener. Watching him take on all the big responsibilities of being the head of the Catholic Church was pretty cool. It made me realize how important history is and how the Catholic Church is like no other place on earth.
Now Pope Francis is gone. He was a real warrior for Jesus, standing up for what he believed in even when it wasn’t the popular thing to do. He gave so many young Catholics a taste of what I experienced as a kid. The Cardinals are getting together to pick the next Pope, and I can’t wait to see who it’s gonna be.
Some Western dioceses have seen a bunch of young folks converting to Catholicism lately. They say it’s because of the Church’s traditional ways and long history. So, the upcoming conclave to choose the new Pope is gonna be extra special. Pope Francis gave them a chance to see how the new leader is picked, following the Bible and all that.
So now we’re in limbo, waiting for the new Pope. This election is gonna be a big deal. The person they pick will shape the future of the Catholic Church for years to come. They’ll have to deal with all the drama happening globally, plus challenges from folks who don’t dig religion or tradition. They’ll need to focus on bringing more people to Christianity. Most importantly, they gotta stay true to Jesus.
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So yeah, we’re all waiting with bated breath to see who the new Pope will be. It’s a big moment for the Catholic Church, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.
