‘There was so much colour and excitement, it's like our Olympics’
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Fr Kilmartin and Fr English in St Peter’s Square.Image 2 of 5
Fr Derek Darby, former PP Ashbourne, Fr Gerry Stewart retired PP Ratoath, Fr Paul Crosbie, PP Trim, Fr Mark Engish, PP Duleek and Fr Michael Kilmartin, PP Ashbourne were in Rome for the conclave.Image 3 of 5
Fr Derek Darby, Fr Mark English and Fr MIchael Kilmartin.Image 4 of 5
Fr Kilmartin, Fr Crosbie and Fr English with Cardinal Grech (third from left) of Malta.Image 5 of 5
The Swiss Guard on duty in St Peter’s Square.Five Meath priests were among the crowds in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican yesterday when the white smoke started to billow from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, to the tumultuous excitement of the waiting faithful.
Fr Michael Kilmartin Parish Priest of Ashbourne and Fr Mark English, parish priest of Duleek and Donore, as well as Ratoath native, Fr Derek Darby, Fr Gerry Stuart, retired PP, Ratoath and Fr Paul Crosbie PP Trim were there when Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was introduced as Pope Leo XIV.
“It is like our Olympics, with all the people from around the world and all the flags and cheering”, said Fr Kilmartin.
"There is so much colour and excitement, it was very moving and great to part of history".
Fr Kilmartin is delighted at the new choice of Pope. "I believe he will continue the wonderful pontificate of Pope Francis and do what is best for the Church. He is a man of the people. It has brought joy to people all over the world."
"Before I travelled out, I sat down to think who I would like to see as pope and he was one of the two I would have chosen."
When Fr Kilmartin was last in Rome 18 months ago he attended a mass celebrated by Cardinal Prevost. "He will bring his Augustinian spirituality to the role. He has said the Church is on a journey and asked where the Church is in 2025 and he will deal with the challenges ahead.
"In his speech after his election the first he spoke about peace. He will try to promote peace and unity."
Fr Kilmartin said that they had waited in St Peter's for more than three hours on the first evening of the conclave.
"When it took such a long time, it could have been that there would be a decision but then around 9pm there was black smoke and we left.
"Then on Thursday afternoon we saw the white smoke and there was such joy and such celebrations around the world."
Fr English said he was delighted to be present, explaining that he and two of his colleagues who travelled had been encouraged by their previous bishop Michael Smith “to try and get out for conclave”.
White smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel just after 5pm, signaling that cardinals locked inside had elected a new leader for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.
The bells of St Peter's Basilica and churches across Rome rang out, indicating the 2,000-year-old Church has its 267th pope.
In Navan, church bells also rang out across the town as the white smoke emerged.