Apostolos Kouroupakis
On Thursday afternoon, just like the day before, thousands of faithful from around the world filled St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican and the streets surrounding it, waiting eagerly for the white smoke to rise from the Sistine Chapel chimney, the sign that a new Pope had been chosen. After the fourth round of voting, the smoke finally appeared, and the crowd swelled. According to Rome’s police, the number of people gathered reached 100,000.
Waving images of saints, crosses, and flags from their home countries, the faithful celebrated joyfully, awaiting the name of their new spiritual leader. Among the sea of flags fluttering in the iconic square, the flag of the Republic of Cyprus also made an appearance, captured by TV cameras at least twice.
Some may have been surprised to see Cyprus represented in the heart of Rome, but it’s worth remembering that Cyprus has a small but historic Latin Catholic community. Recognized as a “religious group” in the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, Latin Catholics have a designated representative in Parliament. Additionally, Cyprus is home to many Catholic migrant workers, particularly from the Philippines.
The Pope is also the spiritual leader of the Maronite Christians of Cyprus, another officially recognized religious group, so it’s no wonder we also saw Lebanese flags waving in the square.
This multicultural wave of flags and faithful didn’t go unnoticed. Many remarked on how it highlighted the truly global nature of the Catholic Church.
The newly elected Pope, chosen by the conclave of 133 cardinals, is 69-year-old American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago. He chose the name Leo and will now be known as Pope Leo XIV.
So, in the heart of this momentous event for the Roman Catholic Church, Cyprus was there, joining the celebration, proudly waving its flag, and reminding the world of its small but present Catholic flock, some of whom are still living in a kind of “Babylonian exile.”
