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Freytags experience the unveiling of Pope Leo XIV

  • Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony above Saint Peter’s Basilica Square when he was first introduced as the newly elected Pope. Millions watched this event on television and thousands attended in person on the evening he was elected, including Wayne and Lee Ann Freytag. The Freytags along with members of the Victoria Diocese as well as Bishop Brendan Cahill attended the event. The photo was taken by Wayne Freytag
    Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony above Saint Peter’s Basilica Square when he was first introduced as the newly elected Pope. Millions watched this event on television and thousands attended in person on the evening he was elected, including Wayne and Lee Ann Freytag. The Freytags along with members of the Victoria Diocese as well as Bishop Brendan Cahill attended the event. The photo was taken by Wayne Freytag

    When a Cardinal in the Catholic Church is elected Pope, it is usually a position held for life and is an event that doesn’t take place very often for the world to see.

    A month ago, April 21, Pope Francis succumbed to illness and through the news networks as well as social media, Americans were able to view the process for electing a new pope.

    A little over two weeks ago, many of us watched as the Cardinals gathered in their Conclave to go about replacing the head of the church.

    We definitely became aware of the meaning of black or white smoke released from the Sistine Chapel and excitedly anticipated the new pope’s unveiling.

    Because it doesn’t happen that often, the naming of a new pope on May 8 allowed millions of people to view a historical event taking place on live television.

    However, there were thousands of people present in person when the newly elected Pope Leo XIV appeared on the balcony above St. Peter’s Basilica Square.

    One particular couple, retired dentist, Dr. Wayne Freytag and his wife, Lee Ann, had the opportunity to experience the event first hand.

    The Freytags along with a group from the Victoria Diocese, including a few residents from Moravia and Schulenburg, joined Bishop Brendan Cahill on a pilgrimage shortly after the death of Pope Francis.

    “We didn’t actually go to Rome for the new pope,” Wayne said. “We went there to view the Four Holy Doors, which are open during jubilee years.”

    According to Lee Ann, the Four Holy Doors are located at different basilicas in the Rome area including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and are only open every 25 years.

    Lee Ann said they left on the pilgrimage right after the news of Pope Francis’ death and really didn’t know if the doors would be open or what would happen on their tour.

    Wayne said they were in Assisi at the time the voting began and the tour guide decided to change our itinerary so they would be close to Rome should a pope be elected.

    “We were in the mountains when the voting began and were trying to guesstimate when the election of a new pope would actually happen,” Lee Ann said. “Also Bishop Cahill was keeping us updated on his phone and trying to figure out if or when it might take place.”

    Traveling to Rome, the group was in St. Peter’s Basilica Square to see the first release of (black) smoke on Wednesday evening.

    “There weren’t near the people in the Square that evening and when the black smoke was released everybody scattered.”

    During the next day, the pilgrimage group went on a tour of the Vatican and did not view the releasing of the smoke, which continued to be black.

    “After touring that day, we were at the hotel, which was located about two blocks from the Square,” Lee Ann said. “We were watching TV, and around 6 p.m., all of sudden here came white smoke, so the Bishop said let’s go.”

    Lee Ann said when they arrived at the Square it was jam packed.

    “It was a lot of people, a lot of seminarians, a lot from every nation,” Lee Ann said. “People were there anticipating who the new pope would be.”

    When it was announced that a new pope was elected and he was from the United States, many were excited, and Americans in the crowd were very proud.

    Lee Ann said when Pope Leo XIV appeared on the balcony, he spoke in Italian and Spanish, and never spoke in English.

    “Bishop Cahill, who speaks both languages, interpreted for them what the pope was saying,” Lee Ann said. “Also, the Bishop is a very emotional man and was in tears when the pope appeared.”

    Not only was the election of a new pope a historic event, when Pope Leo XIV was elected it also made history in being named the first ever United States pope.

    “When they announced Pope Leo XIV was from the United States, we were blown away. He wasn’t even in the running. I was proud.” Lee Ann said.

    “It wasn’t about whether the new pope was American,” Wayne said. “It was an experience and we hit it extremely lucky.”

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    Pope Leo XIV, is 69, and hails from Chicago and unless something unexpected should happen to him, he should be the Catholic Church’s leader for many years to come.