Habemusne Papam?

The day's finally here! It's been a long wait for all of us here in Rome; most of the Cardinals have been here for weeks, and the excitement has been mounting by the day! The first vote will take place this evening, and I for one, plan to be in the square when the smoke, white or black, goes up for the first time! I'm seriously hoping that the new pope is elected before I leave for Germany on Friday. Maybe it's a bit much to ask, but I have a feeling that maybe, just maybe, Jesus will give us all that gift. Of course, I want the Cardinals to vote carefully and take the time to elect the right man, but if they could do it sooner rather than later, I'd be very very happy.

Prayer for the Conclave:

Heavenly Father, We the People of God, gathered in solidarity as did the disciples in the Upper Room, pray for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the cardinals who will be in conclave for the election of the next Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ. May the hearts of our cardinals be open to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, beyond human judgment, to elect the candidate most pleasing to you, Heavenly Father, and who will guide the Church at this momentous time in history at the beginning of the Third Millennium. We invoke our Mother Mary, united in prayer with the disciples in the Upper Room, to intercede for the cardinals to select the next Holy Father in docility to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, her divine Spouse, Holy Mary, Mother of God and of the Church, we entrust this conclave to your maternal and Immaculate Heart, and offer these prayers for your guidance and protection over the choosing of the next Vicar of your Son. one Our Father one Hail Mary one Glory Be

Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy, pray for us!