Southern Nebraska Register
Two priests from the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln studying in Rome are in a unique position, witnessing the historic events surrounding a papal transition.
In a series of videos, they have been sharing the experiences they’ve had and the observances they’ve made, attending the visitation for Pope Francis after his death April 21, the papal funeral Mass April 26, and waiting through the interregnum for the conclave to elect his successor.
Father Andrew Schwenka is studying philosophy at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, and Father Joseph Wahlmeier is completing a licentiate in theology, specializing in Biblical theology, at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Father Wahlmeier will return to the Diocese of Lincoln this spring and in June, he will begin his appointment as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Davey. He will also be an instructor in theology and classical languages at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward.
In remarks to the Southern Nebraska Register after the death of Pope Francis, Father Schwenka said “the next few weeks will certainly be historical and it’s a gift to be able to witness it firsthand in the Eternal City.”
Later that week, the pair joined the multitudes in paying their respects to the Holy Father. Father Wahlmeier explained that the Vatican planned to keep St. Peter’s Basilica open until midnight each night, to allow for the thousands of people who wanted to attend the visitations before the papal funeral.
“They ended up extending that until 5:30 in the morning,” he said, “because there were streams of people that kept coming.”
Father Wahlmeier and Father Schwenka waited, he estimated, three and a half to four hours to make their visitation to the body of Pope Francis.
More than 200,000 people attended the three-day period in which he was lying in state. Father Wahlmeier said the crowds were a testament to “everyone who wanted to be close to him one more time.”
“There is that contact,” he said, “with Peter, with the Vicar of Christ.”
Pope Francis is buried very near the place where Saint Peter is buried, he pointed out.
“That was a striking image,” he said. “That continuity of Peter, laying down his life in martyrdom in Rome, and then the current pope laying down his life… to be pope.”
The visitation lasted from Wednesday until Friday and the papal funeral was Saturday, April 26.
The Lincoln priests arose early that day, leaving the Casa Santa Maria – where priests from the U.S. studying in Rome live – at 5:30 a.m. to walk to St. Peter’s, as many local transportation modes shut down for the funeral. In the square, they prepared for Mass with 6,000 brother priests, and joined in the rosary for Pope Francis.
As Father Schwenka described the crowds and the admittance process, Father Wahlmeier said navigating the immense crowds was like “a Husker game day, turned up to 11!”
They observed the arrival of dignitaries from around the globe.
“It was amazing to see the universal reach of the papacy, and what it means to the world,” Father Schwenka said.
He also described the “Novendialies” Masses — nine days of mourning marked by solemn Masses offered for the deceased pope and encouraged prayer for Francis.
“And so in this time, we continue to pray for the eternal repose of the Holy Father, Pope Francis,” he said, “and so I encourage you to continue to pray for him and to pray for his eternal happiness.”
Father Wahlmeier shared a thought that struck him, as they moved through the time of mourning to preparation. After the funeral, most of the city, he said, had a moment to “breathe a little bit” after the busy-ness of the events of the week.
“But the cardinals,” he said, “they start working.”
Before the conclave, the cardinals present in Rome meet in congregations, discussing the needs of the Church and the role of the next pontiff. The conclave itself was scheduled to begin May 7.
Father Wahlmeier recalled watching the cardinals process in and out of the funeral.
“It highlighted, as we watched them,” he said, “that one of those men, in all likelihood, will be the next pope.”
Both priests encouraged prayer for the cardinals, and the one chosen to be the next pope.
The priests’ videos are available on the diocesan YouTube channel, @CatholicDioceseofLincoln.
