'He's a lovely man, a great listener': Cork priest among faithful in Vatican celebrating new pope

Irish Examiner

09-05-2025

Pope Who?
Fumata bianca! Fumata bianca!
The white smoke streams, bronze bells peal and St Peter's Square explodes, throngs waving flags shouting "Viva il Papa", singing "Olé Olé Olé" in the blinding sun coming in low over the dome of the basilica.
Everybody breathless, beaming. Priests cheer, nuns dance. Parents hoist their children onto shoulders, workmen race in in their overalls, Marian blue. As word goes out, the diplomats and civic leaders come in, all coiffed, some draped in the Italian sash of office, others puffing from the rush.
Locals hug tourists, tourists hug each other, bellowing into phones Habemus Papam! Habemus Papam! as if every call they ever made was in Latin and every conversation about the pope.
That's the thing about Rome, I suppose: it gets into you. And it gets in truly, madly, deeply at the time of a pope's death or a conclave when Rome is not only a city, but the world.
And on Thursday, on the fourth count that world had a new pope, the assembled ranks of the navy, air force, the Vatican band and Swiss guard marching to herald and greet him.
Between the smoke and the announcement of the name, the big question seemed to be will he go for the silk, the velvet and the slippers or the plain white, the black work shoes like Papa Francesco? And then, suddenly, the window opens, the name is announced, there he is in red, and in St Peter's Square, it appears, the only question being asked is "Who?".
Ann Cullen from Graiguenamanagh in Co Kilkenny, travelled with her sister Bernie Egan specially for the conclave, waiting at the Vatican barriers for six hours on Wednesday and eight hours on Thursday.
'The atmosphere was fantastic,' she says. 'Like a concert. Suddenly, the white smoke came and it was incredible, it was history and we were right there for it. We always wanted to go.
The place was electric. But when they called the name, we all just looked at each other and asked 'Who'?
"We asked a Ugandan priest next to us and he was asking the same 'Who's this'? It's all we heard round us. Who?', she continues 'and then he came out in the red and it was a bit off-putting. But people are telling us he is a very sincere man, even though he's not very charismatic. So, we'll see.
"It will be interesting to see an American pope with Trump in office. I was hoping for a European, because I think it's time for the papacy to come home to Italy, to Europe. We wish him well and we were thrilled to be there. It's something we wanted all our lives.'
Cork man Fr Derry Murphy, Vicar General of the Pallottine Order in Rome, who knew Papa Francesco, then Cardinal Bergoglio, during a 17-year posting in Argentina, says of the new pope: 'I'm delighted. He was somebody I had my eye on during the week and I'd heard nothing but good things about him.
"He's a good man, a quiet man, solid. He's a man of deep faith with his eye on God but at the same time is highly competent and is used to managing Church, so he is a good choice.
"The name might have thrown people a bit but remember Leo XIII wrote Rerum Novarum and was the pope who drew up the social doctrine of the Church in 1891 and is known as 'the father of social doctrine'. So, I believe all of this is good.'
Fr Derry Murphy who was in Rome when new pope was elected.
Since the new pope is Augustinian I spoke to his confrere Fr O'Brian O'Sullivan, living in Rome for many years. Originally from Glengariff he says 'this was the work of the Holy Spirit. We're all delighted for him and we're rejoicing in the reflected glory. It's marvellous news and came as no shock to us.
"The paper I read Il Messaggero had him as a frontrunner for a while, but still I had a lump in my throat when his name came.
'He's a lovely man, a great listener, very down to earth, unassuming. He has huge experience in the workings of the Church. He knows what's going on all over the world. In his synodal work he met with Pope Francis every Saturday and I know he will continue in the way of Francis.
"They were good friends. He has great faith and a serenity about him. I think his election is great news.'
In Italy, beyond the disappointment that the new pope is not Italian, consensus is general on how good it was to hear the Pontifex Maximus - the supreme bridge-builder - talking about doing just that and making peace so central in his message.
The peace so badly needed in our world.