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Hurrying in the cold and rain to St Peter’s Square this evening to await the first smoke signal, I was amazed to find that there were already thousands upon thousands of people braving the conditions there.
People of all ages and stages and ethnicities from the very young to the very old all with eyes fixed on the chimney, as well as on the lose-up shots on the large tv screens keen to see result of the first ballot.
Who could say the Church is dead when clearly it’s very much alive and in good heart?
When huge amounts of black smoke billowed from the chimney at 7.45pm there was a mighty buzz.
Shortly afterwards everyone dispersed, no doubt to return tomorrow in even greater numbers.
Cellphone and internet connectivity is somewhat intermittent at times.
Given the great numbers of people in one place, many talking on their cellphones, and the hi-tech electronic security cage over the adjacent Sistine Chapel and the Santa Marta accomodation where the cardinals are staying it’s no wonder that there is occasional overload.
What an anomaly – all this technology contrasted with communication by smoke signal!
– Lyndsay Freer is Communications Spokesperson for the Diocese of Auckland.
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News category: Pope.
