Immediately after the canonical election, the last of the deacons cardinals, the American James Harvey, called the Sistine Chapel to the Secretary of the cardinal College, to the master of liturgical celebrations and two ceremonies. Since Cardinal Dean Giovanni Battista Re and the Vice Dean, Leonardo Sandri, did not participate in the conclave for being more than 80 years old, The person in charge of asking the chosen one if he agreed to be a potato or was not the French cardinal Dominique Mambertiwhich presided over the conclave. Cardinal Mamberti, on behalf of all voters, requested the consensus of the chosen one: “¿Accept the election of you canonical facts in the highest Pontiff?” (¿Aceptas you elección canólicica to take a brush?). Once the affirmative answer, he asked: “What nomine vis vocari?” (“What name do you want to be called?”). The new Pontiff replied: “I call the lion 14” (“I will call myself XIV “). It was 18.08 hours And at that time the White Smoking and replicating the Vatican’s bells announced to the world that there was Pope.
Once accepted as the 267º Successor From San Pedro, the new Pope retired to a small stay located next to the main altar of the Sistine Chapel, just under the imposing scene of the final judgment painted by Miguel Ángel. That space, known as the tears room, He has witnessed the emotion of many newly elected pontiffs. It would not be strange that, like others before him, Let a tear escape, whether it was for the intensity of the moment, the emotional load of the conclave, or the colossal weight of the mission he had just accepted.
Start of your path as Pope
The so -called ‘Hall of Tears’ It remains closed to the public and is not part of the usual route made by the faithful and tourists in their visit to the Sistine Chapel. On their walls still remains of frescoes and old paintings, which stand out on the worn white that surrounds them. The room is modestly furnished: a simple table holds a small image of the Virgin with the child, and a red velvet sofa offers a space for recollection. There, on a coat rack, The new Pope finds the white cassock, red shoes, stole, scarlet enslave and other garments of the papal, such as shirts and socks, ready to dress the new successor of San Pedro.
Pope Leo XIV on the balcony of San Pedro. Vatican News
Already dressed in white, the newly chosen Pontiff returned to the Sistine Chapel, where he was received with a prolonged applause from the cardinals. One by one, They approached him to give him obedience. Meanwhile, Cardinal Protodiácono, in charge of announcing the choice, He prepared to reveal the name of the new Pope to the world. For his part, the Pontiff retired to the nearby Paulina Chapel, located a few meters away, where He prayed silently to the Blessed Sacrament before going to the balcony to appear before the faithful.
