As 133 cardinals sequestered in the Sistine Chapel to select a new pope May 7, nearly 4,500 miles away another conclave assembled — although its cardinals were on the shorter side.
St. Anthony of Padua School in Falls Church held its first-ever mock conclave on the first day of the actual conclave in Rome. They did not hold back on the props.
A giant reproduction of Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment,” pieced together with dozens of printouts, hung above the auditorium’s stage, reminiscent of the Sistine Chapel. A high “altar” was erected, upon which stood a large crucifix and lit candles. A large chalice sat nearby, into which the cardinals would cast their ballots. An aisle ran from the altar to freestanding double doors, which would be closed to emphasize the secrecy of the cardinals’ proceedings. A border of boxes demarcated the line between the “Sistine Chapel” and the outside world of “St. Peter’s Square.”
Some 30 cardinals, selected from the 133 voting cardinals in Rome, were played by sixth through eighth grade boys. But the entire student body had roles of their own. Some middle schoolers played Swiss guards, priests, members of religious orders, security guards, members of the press, and Vatican housekeepers, including cooks, doctors, and nurses. The school even gave the Catholic Herald an honorary conclave press pass.
As each grade entered the auditorium, ushers handed students a “privileged access” conclave pass. Each grade represented the country of a particular cardinal. They merrily waved their country’s flags as Father Zinjin N. Iglesia, parochial vicar of St. Anthony of Padua, wandered among the classes, stirring up the students with chants in honor of their countries.
All hushed as Father Matthew H. Zuberbueler, pastor, called forth the cardinals. Two by two, the cardinals walked into the auditorium, through the double doors and down the aisle. They bowed before the altar before taking their seats.
Father Zuberbueler narrated the conclave’s proceedings, with the cardinals acting out his descriptions. As Father Zuberbueler declared, “Extra omnes,” all personnel exited the chapel after a quick sweep by “security” for cell phones; they discovered one member of the “press” with a phone and promptly escorted her out. One cardinal, Cardinal Joseph Cootts of Pakistan, portrayed by eighth grader Nethinim Nekatibeb, was taken ill and sent to the infirmary.
The cardinals stood to take an oath of secrecy, placing their hands on Bibles at their tables. After deliberating, they wrote down their votes and placed them in the chalice. A delegation of cardinals received the vote of the infirm Cardinal Cootts, which was placed in a secret box and deposited into the chalice as well. A cardinal read the votes aloud; the votes were tied together with a red cord and recounted by another three cardinals.
The dramatic moment came: Black “smoke” issued from a fog machine in a “chimney” in the corner. The cardinals processed out, with the promise of another vote the next day.
Fifth grader Matthew Amaya, representing the nation of Ghana, had high hopes for his cardinal. “I was hoping for (Cardinal) Peter Turkson to win,” he said. “I didn’t know this year about a mock conclave, but now I know what happens.”
“We have four (cardinals), but the one that we saw in our classroom was (Cardinal) George Jacob Koovakad,” representing India, said second grader Amanda Addis. “My favorite part was that they said, ‘No cell phones,’ because if you have something distracting you, and then if you’re picked as pope … you’re just going to be looking at your phone,” she said.
The cardinals convened again with the school community the next day. This time, white smoke poured from the chimney: Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy, portrayed by eighth grader Gebrelie Dagne, had been elected. He took the name “Pope Isidore.” He greeted the faithful from a balcony constructed by the school outdoors in St. Anthony Square.
St. Patrick School in Fredericksburg also held its first-ever conclave May 1. Father William B. Schierer, parochial vicar, enlisted all 27 middle school boys to serve as cardinals.
The school community all pitched in with the costumes. Father Schierer borrowed 27 red cassocks from the church to serve as costumes. Meanwhile, Brian Dunleavy, principal, enlisted the help of several school moms who donated red felt and helped create the cardinals’ zucchettos.
“We got the whole school involved in the process,” Dunleavy said. “We also got a few of the middle school girls to be newscasters.” Father Schierer wrote a script for the conclave, from which the newscasters read to the audience during the conclave. Art teacher Julie Tran traced outlines of art from the Sistine Chapel on paper, which students from kindergarten to fifth grade colored to place around the parish hall. Several middle school girls constructed the smokestack, which spewed “white smoke” from a fog machine.
In the days prior to the conclave, Dunleavy printed the names of the cardinal electors on cardstock, and gave each student the name of a cardinal to pray for. Each middle schooler also researched one of 50 cardinals not featured in the school conclave, and wrote a research paper on that cardinal.
The day of the conclave, students of all grades assembled in the parish hall with several school parents. Bearing a crucifix, the cardinals processed into the “Sistine Chapel.” Two of the cardinals looked a little older. Father Schierer represented Cardinal Parolin, while Dunleavy represented 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals; Dunleavy was promptly escorted out for being too old to vote. After deliberating, voting and counting the votes, the cardinals announced the election of Congolese Cardinal Fridolin A. Besungu, played by eighth grader Rocco Corvetti. Corvetti was taken to the “Room of Tears,” where he donned the white papal cassock. Arms spread in greeting, he faced the cheering school community from a loft in the parish hall.
While pulled together at the last minute, Dunleavy said the experience provided students a glimpse into this rare, historic process. “We’re excited about the whole process,” he said. “I told some of the kids, ‘This might be the last conclave you’ll get to witness before you’re an adult.’ So, this is a big deal.”
Hours after the St. Anthony mock conclave concluded, a bespectacled man walked onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. He did not take the name Isidore, but took another name: Pope Leo XIV.
This article has been updated.
