by Father Sean M. Suckiel
A Witness to History: Reflections from St. Peter’s Square
Being in St. Peter’s Square at the moment a new Holy Father was elected is an experience I will never forget. I hadn’t expected to see the white smoke. My flight home was scheduled for the next morning, and I had already made peace with the idea that I would miss the announcement.
But then — suddenly — it happened. White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney. I was overcome with shock and joy as the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica began to toll. I never imagined I would be there, in that sacred space, to hear them ring for the election of a pope. It felt surreal — to stand among thousands, witnessing such a historic moment in the life of the Church I love.
My first instinct was to reach for my phone to capture it all — pictures, video, the emotion of that unforgettable evening. About 75 minutes passed before Cardinal Dominique Mamberti emerged onto the central balcony. During that time, the atmosphere in the square became electric. Security sectors were closed off, the Swiss Guard and Italian military bands marched in, and a wave of anticipation swept through the crowd. I was physically shaking, overwhelmed with nerves. I clutched my rosary and prayed for our new Holy Father, pledging in my heart my obedience and love for him and his Petrine ministry.
Then came the moment. The balcony doors opened, and the cardinals appeared. And then we heard the words the world had been waiting for: “Habemus papam” — “We have a pope!” The crowd erupted. Joy surged through the square. Marian hymns echoed, flags from every continent waved, and tears flowed freely. The world had a new shepherd.
When the cardinal announced his name, I was in disbelief. Never in my lifetime did I think I would witness the election of an American pope. And yet there he was. His first words — “Peace be with all of you” — washed over the crowd like a gentle wave. A profound peace and renewed hope filled St. Peter’s Square. America had given the Church a pope.
This moment holds even greater meaning because it unfolds during the Jubilee of Hope — a holy year dedicated to renewal, mercy, and rediscovery of faith. The Church is entering a true springtime of renewal, and Easter this year stood as a powerful testament to that.
At my home parish, Holy Family in Fresh Meadows, our Easter celebrations were overflowing — standing room only. We saw young families, children, and those who had been away from the Church returning to the pews. There is a spiritual reawakening happening — a revival we can feel in our communities and see in our sanctuaries.
To have been in St. Peter’s Square at this sacred moment — a sign of new beginnings for the universal Church — was not only humbling, but a profound confirmation that the Holy Spirit is indeed alive and moving in our world.
The joy in that square, the faith of the people gathered, and the peace in our new Holy Father’s voice — all of it points to something greater. Something holy. Something hopeful.
Pope Leo XIV is his name. He is an American. He is our 267th pope.
Father Sean M. Suckiel is the pastor of Holy Family, Fresh Meadows.