Le emozioni di Zuppi tra i suoi preti

12PORTE - May 15, 2025: Long live Pope Leo! The Cardinal is finally reunited with his family, among his priests, after celebrating the Mass of thanksgiving for the election of Pope Leo. "Leone is happy, and Matteo is much happier!" The Cardinal jokes, fresh from the solemn and certainly thoughtful days of the Conclave. The most touching moment for him was the opening of the balconies of the Vatican Basilica, when even the Cardinals felt the powerful impact of the crowd gathered in the square. Pope Leo's emotion before speaking is understandable, says Zuppi. "I said to myself, 'I would have closed everything and run away.'" A reference to Nanni Moretti's film. “It was such an emotion… truly beautiful… that I said to myself… I would close everything down!!… In fact, at first when they opened—we couldn't see it—but… beautiful… beautiful. Then there was the world… They asked him: Did you hear what he was saying about the square? No, we almost didn't understand. You could hear the applause. You could tell he was speaking in Spanish… Then you realized that at first, I don't know how much, but he was moved. Look, I really understand him. I understand the lump in his throat. The tears, really, because it's truly a wonderful thing. Of course, he's very secretive about the proceedings in the Conclave. But the Cardinal doesn't give up his hilarity. “We swore twice, the first time it was a secret… keeping quiet, etc., etc. And then, every time you voted, there was this: "Remember, before Christ, before the judgment of God... And before you is Michelangelo... Because the height is that of hell, obviously. It's not like you could look all the way up. I mean, you had the message clearly... Charon, those who are in hell... I don't know if you know what I mean. And you, before that tribunal, swear to choose the one who is best for the Church, the one you deem in conscience the best person for the good of the Church... "Have you all spoken, all the cardinals?" At the congregations, I'd say yes. Then yesterday there was the meeting, also a very beautiful one, with Pope Leo. Not there, unfortunately... About thirty... there would have been more... because everyone was there, eh? Only the 133 were in the Conclave. Everyone was at the congregations. Ruini was there, for example, in a wheelchair. Acerbi also came, who I think is... 98-99 years old. The emotions experienced in recent days are easing, recharged by the powerful experience of the Church lived, ready to resume the journey.