Living in Rome as the Church Chose a New Pope

When Christendom juniors arrived in Rome this February, they expected art, history, and the beauty of living in the Heart of the Church. What they did not expect was to witness a historic papal transition—studying by day and joining crowds in St. Peter’s Square for the funeral of one pope and the election of another.

Christendom students have been present for such moments before: the funeral of Pope St. John Paul II and the elections of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. Each time, students were deeply moved, their understanding of the Church and the papacy enriched.

This year’s juniors shared in that same extraordinary experience. For rising senior Anna Hsu, it became a profound reminder of what it truly means to “restore all things in Christ.” This is her story, from the final days of Pope Francis to the first days of Pope Leo XIV.

Historic Events in the Heart of the Church

by Anna Hsu '26

When I asked previous Rome students about their experiences, I always heard some form of, “Rome will change you.” This proved to be true. However, I never expected to witness changes in Rome herself and the entire universal church through the papal conclave. The city was already buzzing with the excitement of the Jubilee Year, restoring the art, the churches, and the city architecture to enhance Rome’s beauty. These exterior changes reflected an interior change that was visible in the people I encountered. During the two and a half months I spent in the city, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims journeyed to the Heart of the Church. The Jubilee Year provided the faithful with an opportunity to grow closer to God, but an even deeper opportunity for trust occurred with the death of Pope Francis and the subsequent conclave. These historic events affected the heart of the Church and the hearts of all her members. Including mine.

Hsu, along with fellow classmates, takes a tour of the Roman Forum.

I faced several personal challenges during my time in Rome. I had never been away from my family for such a prolonged period of time. I had never been so far from home or spent so much time in a big city, which took a great amount of adjustment.

Throughout these trials, there was one constant consolation. I felt God’s presence in a unique way during my time there, which helped me recognize how blessed I am to have the Catholic Faith. He was there in all the beautiful churches that practically lined the streets. He was there in the joy of receiving the Eucharist. He was there when I cried in Adoration. He was visible in my friends and in the other pilgrims. He was there whenever I needed Him. I think, like me, most Catholics know they can rely on God, but they know it as an intellectual fact. Life can transform it into subjective experience, making our Faith truly alive. I had to renew my trust in God. I was in Rome, not only as a student, but as a pilgrim of hope. And I was not alone. Especially after receiving the news of Pope Francis’s death, this sense of hope and trust in God was deepened throughout Rome.

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The death of a pope leaves a gaping hole in the Church, and his absence is felt by all her members, especially by the Romans, who have lost not only their pope but their bishop. The following period is one of sorrow, anxiety, and anticipation, but it is never a time of despair. Even as we visited St. Peter’s to say goodbye to Pope Francis during the three days before his funeral, we had hope. We knew a new pope would be elected under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He has protected His Church since the beginning, and He will always continue to do so. The history visible throughout Rome bore witness to this fact. I was privileged to go on the Scavi tour, which enabled us to see the excavations under St. Peter’s Basilica and to glimpse the bones of St. Peter. The Holy Spirit was with the first pope and with each of his successors. There are portraits of all the popes lining the upper parts of the walls at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, which gives a visible sense of continuity. The Holy Spirit guided every change, and it is such a blessing to have security in the fact that He will always continue to do so. Christ will never abandon His Bride.

Christendom juniors make an evening visit to St. Peter's during the conclave.

When the start date of the conclave was announced, I had a difficult decision to make. I had planned a trip to Sardinia with several friends; flights were bought and lodgings booked. I could back out of the trip and stay in Rome for this historical occasion, or I could go and just pray the new pope would be elected within the first few ballots while I was still there. After much consideration, I ultimately decided on the latter. I spent as much time in St. Peter’s Square as possible until I had to leave for my trip. I was about to go catch a train to the airport when I heard local church bells ringing and received the news about the white smoke. It was in those moments of disappointment that I glimpsed true joy. My friends and I questioned our decision to leave Rome, but in those moments on the train, huddled together over a phone and excitedly awaiting the announcement of the new pope, we chose to be joyful. We decided to live the experiences that God had permitted us to have. When I received the papal blessing, I felt a tremendous sense of relief. Most of my doubt dissipated, and I resolved to celebrate Pope Leo XIV’s election throughout the whole weekend. I think that our genuine joy made us visible witnesses to those around us, and I hope that we spread that joy throughout our travels.

Students in St. Peter's Square for the announcement of Pope Leo XIV.

My time in Rome reminded me how important it is to be open to the Holy Spirit working in my life and working through me to affect the lives of others. I learned about many of the symbols that have been used since the early Christians. My favorite was the anchor. God is our source of stability and will keep us rooted through all the storms we face in our lives. The beauty of these symbols made me question: What do I want to be a symbol of? All Christians should hope that, when people look at us, they see the face of Christ. It is so easy to get lost in the grandeur of Rome with all the amazing architecture and breathtaking churches. However, these do little to glorify God compared to what we can do when we devote our lives to Him. In order to live out Christendom’s mission of restoring all things in Christ, we must first restore ourselves in Christ.

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