During my 20-year career as a technician, editor, and photojournalist for CBS News in New York, I had the honor and privilege to be assigned to cover some of the greatest events of early 21st century. These included among others; multiple National political conventions, the election of our Country’s first black President, a Royal wedding in London, hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, National sports championships, and the launch and landing of the Space Shuttle. However, as memorable as any was the election of Pope Francis I in Rome.
When Pope John Paul II died in April of 2005, I was thrilled to be chosen for the crew that would be sent to Rome to cover the election of the new pope. I had traveled to Rome a number of times before and it’s one of my favorite cities. To be able to actually work there was like a dream come true. Of course, at the time, due to the nature of the election process, we had no idea how long we would be there. However, based on previous Conclaves (the official term from the Vatican for the Pope’s election), we figured to be there for about a week.
Boy, were we wrong.
We stayed in a hotel on the outskirts of the city that was used to house athletes during the 1960 Olympic games in Rome. From there we would travel to St. Peters located in the heart of town. Our headquarters were set up in a convent right in St Peters square where we had a spectacular roof top view of the entire Vatican and the balcony where the new pope would appear for the first time to the assembled throng in the square below.
In the beginning, we would take a car service from the hotel to St. Peters. I always marveled at how the Roman drivers always seemed perilously close to disaster only to have the intricate ballet unfold without any major incidents. We would get to the convent, knock, and wait for one of the nuns to give us access. From this location we would file all our stories and broadcast LIVE when required. After a few days, we settled into a regular working routine, much as any working Roman might do.
Well, a few days turned into a week and then into two with no new news. It began to feel like we not only worked in Rome but lived there too! It became so routine that we started using the subway to commute to the Vatican. We even found great places to eat where the locals went, far away from the throngs of tourists. What made it even more fun and exciting was not knowing exactly when the decision would be made and the new pope would be announced and appear on the Vatican’s main balcony. From experience we knew that the votes from the Conclave would be tallied and then burned. The smoke from the burning ballots would then appear from a small pipe located atop the building where the voting took place. If no pope was elected the smoke would appear black. If the vote was successful in electing the new pope, the smoke would be white. Needless to say, virtually EVERYONE in that city, including us, was watching that small pipe night and day.
Two weeks turned into three and then four, still with no word. We continued our routine of work, hotel, and whenever time might allow, indulged in all the history, culture, and food a great city like Rome has to offer. One of the places we found that was very authentic and became very popular among journalists was a trattoria on a small side street just outside of Vatican City named Borgo Pio. It was a tiny place with great food and atmosphere. Plus, they had a couple of TVs, of course fixed on an iso shot of the legendary roof top pipe. One day, as we were casually having lunch with the TVs on in the background, suddenly the little pipe started spewing WHITE SMOKE indicating that a decision had been made and a new Pope would make his first appearance that evening.
Well, you’ve never seen a place clear out so quickly! NO ONE waited for a check. Everyone just reached into their pockets, threw all their money on the tables and high tailed it to their relative positions at St. Peters. As we ran from the trattoria to the square, I noticed that it seemed that the ENTIRE city of Rome was doing the same thing! EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE, was making a mad dash to the Vatican. Even though born a Catholic I have not been a practicing one for many years. However, you didn’t have to one to feel the excitement in the crowd. There was an energy, a positive feeling that was palpable. Even though this is an ancient tradition, it was as if this was a new beginning, that the world, in a sense, was being recreated. I was literally swept up, physically AND emotional by the crowd as I rushed to my position at the convent. The emotion was so strong that I still feel it today.
We took our position on the roof top overlooking the Vatican and waited for the official announcement and appearance of the new Pope. Finally, later that evening, dressed in blazing, pure white vestments, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina came out onto the balcony for the first time as Pope Francis 1. As he stepped forward for a blessing, the crowd below, estimated at 300,000, roared in unison. It was as if for that brief moment, all was right with the world. It was one of those pinch yourself encounters when you can’t believe you are actually THERE, witnessing one of the great moments in history, AND from a location that money simply could not by. The fact that he choose to honor St. Francis, patron of animals, the poor, AND me for his new name further added to my excitement and emotions.
Pope Francis would go on to live up his name and creed, becoming a champion of ALL those less fortunate from ALL faiths. Again, I am not religious, but he demonstrated the best that Christianity has to offer: compassion, understanding and unconditional love. He is now a part of history – a history that I was honored and privileged to experience.
Photo by Frank LoBuono
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Photo credit: Frank LoBuono
