As the conclave continues its sacred search for the 266th successor of St. Peter, pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square — and millions around the world — eagerly await the appearance of white smoke from the Sistine Chapel and the proclamation of “habemus papam” from a balcony overlooking the square. In anticipation of that moment, take a look back at some of the earliest words shared by the past six popes — whether spoken from the balcony or during the first days of their papacy:
Pope Francis (2013-2025)
“Brothers and sisters, good evening. You know that the duty of the conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother cardinals went almost to the end of the world to get him. But here we are. I thank you for this welcome by the diocesan community of Rome to its bishop. Thank you. First of all, I would like to say a prayer for our bishop emeritus, Benedict XVI. Let us all pray together for him, let us all pray together for him so that the Lord may bless him and that the Madonna may protect him. … And now, let us start this journey, bishop and people, bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome, which leads all the Churches in charity, a journey of fraternity, of love, of trust among us. Let us always pray for us, one for the other, let us pray for the whole world, so that there may be a great fraternity.”
— Speaking from the Vatican balcony on the evening of his election as the 266th pope, March 13, 2013
Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013)
“Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me a simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord. The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers. In the joy of the risen Lord, trusting in his permanent help, we go forward. The Lord will help us and Mary, his very Holy Mother, stands by us.”
— Speaking from the Vatican balcony on the day of his election as the 265th pope, April 19, 2005
Pope St. John Paul II (1978-2005)
“Praised be Jesus Christ! Beloved brothers and sisters, we are all still saddened after the death of the most beloved Pope John Paul I. The most eminent cardinals have called a new bishop of Rome. They have called him from a faraway country, far away but alway so close through communion in the Faith and in the Christian tradition. I was afraid to receive this appointment, but I did it in the spirit of obedience to Our Lord and with total trust in his mother, Our Most Holy Lady.
Also, I do not know if I can explain myself well in your — in our — Italian language. If I make a mistake, you will correct me! And so I introduce myself to you all, to confess our common faith, our hope, our trust to the Mother of Christ and of the Church, and also to begin anew on the path of history and of the Church, to begin with the help of God, and with the help of men.”
— Speaking from the Vatican balcony on the evening of his election as the 264th pope, Oct. 16, 1978
Blessed Pope John Paul I (1978)
“Yesterday morning I went to the Sistine Chapel to vote tranquilly. Never could I have imagined what was about to happen. As soon as the danger for me had begun, the two colleagues who were beside me whispered words of encouragement. One said: ‘Courage! If the Lord gives a burden, he also gives the strength to carry it.’ The other colleague said: ‘Don’t be afraid; there are so many people in the whole world who are praying for the new pope.’ When the moment of decision came, I accepted.
Then there was the question of the name, for they also ask what name you wish to take, and I had thought little about it. My thoughts ran along these lines: Pope John had decided to consecrate me himself in St Peter’s Basilica. Then, however unworthy, I succeeded him in Venice on the Chair of St. Mark, in that Venice which is still full of Pope John. He is remembered by the gondoliers, the sisters, everyone.
Then Pope Paul not only made me a cardinal, but some months earlier, on the wide footbridge in St. Mark’s Square, he made me blush to the roots of my hair in the presence of 20,000 people, because he removed his stole and placed it on my shoulders. Never have I blushed so much! Furthermore, during his 15 years of pontificate, this pope has shown, not only to me but to the whole world, how to love, how to serve, how to labour and to suffer for the Church of Christ.
For that reason I said: ‘I shall be called John Paul.’ I have neither the ‘wisdom of the heart’ of Pope John, nor the preparation and culture of Pope Paul, but I am in their place. I must seek to serve the Church. I hope that you will help me with your prayers.”
— Angelus, Aug. 27, 1978, the day after his election
Pope St. Paul VI (1963-1978)
“As we begin our grave ministry, we are sustained by the comforting words of Christ, with which he promised Peter and his successors that he would remain with the Church until the end of time (cf. Mt 28:20); we are sustained by the maternal protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, to whom we have entrusted our pontificate from the beginning; and at the same time by the help and prayers of the Apostles Peter and Paul and of all the saints.
As a pledge of this heavenly assistance, and as a joyful encouragement to the good energies spread throughout the world, we are pleased to impart, as the first fruits of our paternal benevolence, to you, venerable brothers and beloved sons, and to the entire human family, the Apostolic Blessing.”
— Message of Paul VI to the Whole Human Family, June 22, 1963, the day after his election
Pope St. John XXIII (1958-1963)
“Hearing your words, ‘I tremble and fear.’ What I know of my poverty and vileness is sufficient for my confusion. But when I see in the vows of my most eminent brothers, the cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, a sign of the will of God, I accept the choice made by them: and I bow my head and my back to the chalice of bitterness and to the patience of the Cross. On the solemnity of Christ the King we all sang: ‘The Lord is our judge: the Lord is our lawgiver: the Lord is our King.’ He will save us.
I will be called John. Our name is sweet, because it is the name of our father; our name is sweet, because it is the title of the humble parish in which we received baptism; the solemn name of innumerable cathedrals, which are found throughout the whole world, and especially of the sacred Lateran Church, our cathedral: a name which in the ancient series of Roman pontiffs enjoys the greatest primacy of plurality.”
— Accettazione del Supremo Mandato, Oct. 28, 1958, the day of his election
