THE DEATH OF POPE JOHN PAUL II AND ELECTION OF POPE BENEDICT XVI: REVISITING MY DIARY ENTRIES

It has been a year since the death of Pope John Paul the Great and the Election of Pope Benedict the XVI. I would like to share my diary entries on those historical events to my readers especially to my relatives and friends :


THE DEATH OF JOHN PAUL THE GREAT

April 1, 2005
> 8:00 PM- I joined the Rosary vigil for the dying Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Square

April 2, 2005
> 9:00 PM- I, together with Fr. Rey Adalid, OP, Fr. Arlou Buslon and Fr. Edison Escario, joined the rosary vigil for Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Square . At around 10:03 PM, it was announced that Pope John Paul II died at 9:37 PM (at that moment, we were singing the litany of the saints). Apparently the last words uttered by the late pope were: "I have looked for you. Now you have come to me. And I thank you."

April 4, 2005
>11:00 AM- The day allotted for the religious to view the remains of Pope John Paul II. Together with Fr. Robbie Gaa and Fr. Jimel Valera, I paid homage to the remains of Pope John Paul II at the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. It took us three hours before seeing him.
>5:00 PM- I was at the St. Peter's square and witnessed the transfer of the remains of Pope John Paul II to the Basilica

April 6, 2005
>10-Hour Line to see the remains of Pope John Paul II: I decided to see once more the remains of Pope John Paul II. This time, I have to experience waiting in line for 10- hours even though we priests could have entered through the back door by showing our Vicariate of Rome Celebret to the Swiss Guards. With me were Fr. Raul Dael, Fr. Jess Layug, Fr. Edison Escario, Fr. Dodong Billones, Sr. Eliza, Sr. Daisy and Sr. Lerma. We joined the line along Borgo Pio at 4:40 AM and we were able to enter the Basilica at 2:30 PM. I must admit that i wanted to quit when we seem to be moving only a few meters per hour. I was, however, inspired at the sight of a Polish Bishop who decided to join the Polish Pilgrims with him, although he could easily get inside the Basilica because bishop's and priests were allowed to enter through the back door. I don't have any regrets though. When we were about to enter St. Peter's Square about 8 and a half hours later, Bombo Radyo Philippines called me through my cellular phone and i became an instant reporter for them- describing the sea of humanity who came to say thanks to a great man who inspired the whole world. I learned from tv news in the evening that there were 1.5 million people on that day.

April 7, 2005
>9:00 AM- Requiem Mass for Pope John Paul II at the Basilica. Among the PCF priests with me were Fr. Jimel Valera, Fr. Freddie Billanes, Fr. Jojo Buenafe and Fr. Edison Escario. Once more, we were able to pay homage to the remains of Pope John Paul II.
>7:30 PM- Mass of Filipinos for Pope John Paul II at the Basilica of Mary Major. The main celebrant was Archbishop Capalla. He was joined by Archbishop Paciano Aniceto and Auxiliary Bishop Cortez of Manila. Cardinal Bernard Law welcomed President GMA and other delegates.

April 8, 2005
>10:00 AM- Funeral of Pope John Paul II. We left PCF at 4:00 AM. We were able to enter St. Peter's Square at 7:30 AM. We wore black cassock with surplice and red stole. The main celebrant and homilist was the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. His homily was applauded for more than 30 times. He ended his homily with these words: "None of us can ever forget how in that last Easter Sunday of his life, the Holy Father, marked by suffering, came once more to the window of the Apostolic Palace and one last time gave his blessing urbi et orbi. We can be sure that our beloved Pope is standing today at the window of the Father's house, that he sees us and blesses us. Yes, bless us, Holy Father. We entrust your dear soul to the Mother of God, your Mother, who guided you each day and who will guide you now to the eternal glory of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen." After the Mass, when the coffin of John Paul the Great was raised facing the crowd, two giant streamers were unfurled bearing the inscription "SANTO SUBITO" (Saint Immediately). We were all in tears as the Sedieri Petri carrying the coffin entered the Basilica.

April 12, 2005
>Sede Vacante 2005 Stamps were made available

April 13, 2005
>I was able to buy the three sets (10 each) of the Sede Vacante 2005 Stamps and have them marked at the Vatican Post Office.


CONCLAVE 2005

April 16, 2005
>The PCF community had a picture taking session with His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the lone Filipino cardinal to participate in the 2005 conclave

April 18, 2005
> First Day of Conclave 2005- I went to St. Peter's Square together with Fr. Edison, Fr. Giovanni, Sr. Eliza and Sr. Estella at around 4:00 PM. We watched the solemn entrance and beginning of the Conclave at the video walls of the square. There was only one balloting- black smoke came out of the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 8:03 PM

April 19, 2005
>Second Day of Conclave 2005- We went to the St. Peter's Square at 9:30 AM. We brought Philippine flags and Vatican flags. The flags attracted the media- they asked us from which country we came from and they interviewed us about our views on the conclave and the papacy. The result of the first balloting (2nd overall) was a black smoke at 11:51 AM. Then shortly at 12:01, the result of the second balloting (3rd overall) was also black smoke.
>Habemus Papam- A group of Filipinos joined us because they saw us waving two big Philippine Flags in the afternoon. Then at around 5:49 PM, white smoke came out of the chimney over the Sistine chapel. And shortly at 6:05 PM the bells of St. Peter's Basilica began ringing, thereby confirming that a new pope has been elected. Everybody became ecstatic, it was a very festive atmosphere. At 6:43 PM Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez, the senior cardinal-deacon (Proto-deacon) came out to the center balcony of the basilica announcing these words: "Annuntio Vobis Gaudium Magnum, Habemus Papam! Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Iosephum Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Ratzinger qui sibi nomen imposuit Benedictum XVI." Then, the people shouted Ratzinger! Ratzinger! then Benedetto! Benedetto! With that I became all the more ecstatic and jubilant for I somehow predicted that the new Pope would be Ratzinger and his name will be Benedict! I thought that if there is somebody who could assure continuity of Pope John Paul II's legacy, it would be Ratzinger. At 6:48 PM, Pope benedict XVI, preceded by the Cross appeared at the center balcony waving at the crowds, making the joined-hands clasped thanks gesture as well as the open hands gesture and then delivered his first ever Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) address as follows:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
"After the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord. The fact that the Lord knows how to work and to act even with inadequate instruments comforts me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.
Let us move forward in the joy of the Risen Lord, confident of his unfailing help. The Lord will help us and Mary, his Most Holy Mother, will be on our side. Thank you."

I brought out the 12 rosaries I just bought and waved them to be blessed when the new pope gave us his blessing. We were also interviewed by Vicky Morales of GMA-7 when the crowd began to disperse.

April 24, 2005
>Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry of Pope Benedict XVI, 10:00 AM at St. Peter's Basilica. I was fortunate to be one of those who distributed Holy Communion.