“I have never felt such emotions in all my life. The
mass media was universally predicting a long conclave. Instead when we
counted the 77th vote, I looked at the person next to me in the Sistine
Chapel and said to him: ‘The Holy Spirit doesn’t read newspapers.’ I
took off my watch and looked at that historic hour: 5:28pm.”
Only hours
after having left the Synod Hall, Paul Poupard, an 82-year-old French
cardinal, looks back to describe the “quick election” of Pope Benedict
XVI.
“During Karol Wojtyla’s funeral, Ratzinger, the dean, raised his
arm towards the window of the papal study so as to invite his spiritual
presence. I understood there and then that the conclave was over before
it had even begun,” explains Poupard, who is a former Vatican Minister
for Culture and Interreligious Dialogue, appointed cardinal in 1985 and
admitted to the conclave in 2005.
“It is impossible to describe the
truly unique emotions I experienced during that time in the presence of
Michelangelo’s Last Judgement.”
How is this conclave different from the one held in 2005?
“At the General Congregations, I knew almost everyone there and I was
able to get to know those I was less familiar with right away. Eight
years ago we were presided over by a dean who then entered the conclave,
whereas this time Cardinal Sodano will not be participating in the
election of the pope. Joseph Ratzinger guided us from the pre-conclave
phase to the conclave. His homily at St Peter’s emotionally and
spiritually united the College of Cardinals. John Paul II’s illness had
been a long one and we were already psychologically prepared to elect
his successor. This time the situation is radically different: Benedict
XVI’s resignation was really a bolt from the blue for all of us.”
What was voting in the Sistine Chapel like?
“It was like crossing over to the other side of the square. I was in St
Peter’s when Roncalli was elected and on the morning the conclave began
I had breakfast with one of his electors. Five years later I was
working in the Secretariat of State and Montini became pope. When it was
my turn to participate in a papal election, I participated in this
extraordinarily intense and important event in the most natural way. I
can remember every moment, every phase. The time scheduled to enter the
conclave and hold the swearing-in ceremony for the election of the new
pope was Monday, 18th April 2005 at 4.30pm. A quarter of an hour
beforehand we met in the Hall of Blessings, the first loggia in St
Peter’s Basilica. We were all wearing our red cassocks, rochets and
mozzettas. Led by the Cross and the Gospels and singing the Litany of
Saints, we walked in procession to the Sistine Chapel where we were
sworn in. My voice trembled with emotion while I recited the Veni
Creator.”
What was the atmosphere like?
“The
Sistine Chapel was being restored. We sat down on uncomfortable wooden
benches, like the kind found in schools. There was total silence in the
Hall of Blessings. I had never been surrounded by total silence despite
the many people gathered in the same place. As soon as the procession
got underway, the psychological block dissolved. The atmosphere was
serious and serene. I particularly remember the Hymn to the Holy Spirit.
It was the most extraordinary version I’ve ever sung. I was walking in
the procession between the German Cardinal Wetter (Ratzinger’s successor
in Munich) and the Filipino Cardinal Vidal whom I’ve encountered in
these Congregations with the same smile.”
And in the Domus Sanctae Marthae?
“Coaches were on hand to ferry us between the Domus and the Sistine
Chapel and vice-versa. However I always walked. The air was pleasant, it
refreshed the mind. I would cross the inner courtyards, St Peter’s
apse, St Damasus, the lift, chatting with brethren. We also spoke openly
at mealtimes, quite serenely. When dinner was over, we would all
spontaneously gather in St Martha’s chapel for prayer. As soon as I’d
reach my room, I’d fall asleep. I slept very well.”