We Watch for White Smoke

By Jennifer Gregory Miller ( bio - articles - email ) | May 06, 2025 | In The Liturgical Year

During the week Pope Francis died, I was quite moved when reading the sign outside a local United Methodist Church: “Praying for Our Catholic Siblings.” How beautiful that they recognized the enormity of our Catholic current events—the sudden loss of Pope Francis, and now we are holding our breath for the next pope. And praying.

This will be the 5th papal conclave in my life, but I have been mostly impacted by 2005 and 2013 elections. In 2005 the world was a bit more interconnected, but 2013 all eyes were watching Rome and the smokestack—because we could. 2025 is even more digital with more social media. How much more impact this will be, only time will tell.

My youngest son was 6 when Pope Francis was elected. The whole election brings up vivid memories for him. For the longest time after the papal election when the smoke rose after extinguishing candles he would say “Habemus Papam!”

There is such richness and beauty in the tradition of the Catholic Church. It’s a comfort knowing that there are death, funeral and conclave rituals at the Vatican that will be followed. The Church is participating in a conclave, a process that began in 1276. We are looking forward to that moment again with the announcement, “Habemus Papam!” and will learn the identify of the new pope on the balcony.

I always like to have books for the children to connect to real life. Katherine Bogner has a book that is perfect for this new papal conclave that starts May 7. “We Have a Pope!” is published by St. Paul Center, Emmaus Road Publishing. The book is currently available from the St. Paul Center. Amazon seems to be a bit delayed on delivery at the moment, but my promised delivery date keeps shortening.

The book’s opening captures the moment we are living right now: “It’s time to elect a new pope!“ The reader can walk in the footsteps of the cardinals during the papal election.

Katherine breaks down the elements of the papal conclave, giving each stage with simple and inviting descriptions, enhanced by the illustrations by Kortney Senn. The cardinals in red birettas, cassocks and mozettas stand out on each page contrasted with the paler but recognizable backgrounds of St. Peter’s and the Sistine Chapel.

Some symbols, statistics, and vocabulary are incorporated throughout. Prayers for the election are also included. The prayers are an important element—we as Catholics are participating in this election by our prayers.

I think the target audience is for children ages 6-14, but the book would be welcome for adults, too.

With the purchase at St. Paul Center there will also be a digital download with special bonus resources which includes printable coloring pages, prayer cards, and papal trading cards. Katherine Bogner also provides some great resources on her personal blog, Look to Him and be Radiant.

This is one book I would say to run and buy—it’s perfect to help the children really enter into the current event of the papal election.

Other Resources

• Jessica at A Shower of Roses has an updated Papal Unit lap book/unit study.
• Vatican News: How a Conclave is Elected