‘We want a pope who would bring hope to the world

VATICAN CITY (AFP) – Catholics gathered from the early morning in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday for the first full day of a conclave to elect a new pope, saying they wanted a compassionate leader who would bring hope to the world.

There were disappointed faces among the faithful huddled under umbrellas in a rainy Vatican, after black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, meaning cardinals had failed to choose a pontiff in the day’s first two votes.
But as priests and nuns from around the world filmed the smoke on their tablets or smartphones, many faithful said they remained hopeful for white smoke later Wednesday.
“There’s a great atmosphere, we’re not just waiting for white smoke, we’re waiting to see a leader emerge who can open up the Church to the modern world,” said Jean Chiche, who had come with his wife and daughter from Paris.
Several thousand people gathered in the square, some of the faithful kneeling to pray, others sitting on camping chairs and reading aloud passages from the Bible.
“It’s the first time I’ve travelled to the Vatican to see a conclave, but I really felt this time more than any other that the world needs the hope a good pope would bring us,” said 71-year-old Brazilian priest Giuseppe Almaida.
“I hope whoever is elected takes the name Clementine, because in this world of wars, suffering and sadness we need clemency,” said Almaida, wearing a Brazil baseball cap to show support for Brazilian Cardinal Odilo Scherer, tipped as a possible pope.