Habemus Papam!

"Anuncio vobis gaudium magnum, habemus papam!"

This statement was spoken by Medina Estevez to announce to the whole world that the Catholic Church has a new pope.

It was 11:50 p.m. here in the Philippines while it was 5:50 p.m. at the Vatican City when the news announced that white smoke (the signal of the success of the election for the new pope) is coming out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

I was watching news and I thought it was another false alarm. But, it was not. I got even more excited when the church bells rang (another sign of the success of the election for the new pope, which is a reform made by Pope John Paul II).

The new pope is the German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, born April 16 (Belated Happy Birthday New Pope!). He is, now, going to be known as Pope Benedict XVI and as the 265th pope for the Catholic Church.

Nga pala, binigyan ni Pope John Paul II ng isang church ang Filipino Catholic Community sa Rome, ang Basilica Potenciana kung saan tumira si St. Peter. According to Pope John Paul II, we, Filipinos, are the new evangelizers of the third millenium. Mabuhay ang mga Filipino!




Viva Papam!