The Hall of Tears: the room where the potatoes cry after the conclave

Upon reaching two thirds of the votes of the Cardinal College necessary to be chosen, the new Pope chooses his name and immediately passes to a small antechamber of the Sistine Chapel, known as the “Hall of Tears.”

In this room, Pedro’s new successor is stripped of the Cardinal Red Color to put on white papal clothing. The fame of this room comes from a tradition that ensures that within it the newly chosen potatoes cry, “once the poor man realizes the weight of his position,” As explained Bishop Robert Barron.

The magazine America: The Jesuit Review He collects the story of Pope Leo XIII who, after being chosen in 1878 at age 65, cried when he considered that “he was too old” and that “he would surely die soon.” Leo XIII lived until 93 and his pontificate – 25 years and 150 days – ended in 1903.

A different case would have been that of Pope San Juan XXIII, who when he saw himself in the mirror with the White Sotana, noticed that the papal garments did not adjust very well to his wide figure and expressed moved, but with his characteristic good humor: “This man will be a disaster on television!”

Pope John Paul I – just before being taken to the “Hall of Tears” – allegedly told the cardinals that they had chosen him: “May God forgive them for what they have done in my regard”, citing a pontiff of ancient times who had said the same, according to the Jesuit magazine.

Beyond the stories and tradition, in this room the new pontiffs have the opportunity to meditate on the words that the Lord directed to St. Peter: “You are Peter, and on this stone I will build my Church, and the power of death will not prevail against it” (Mt. 16, 18).

When leaving the so -called “Sala de las Tears”, each cardinal advances in turn and makes an act of tribute and obedience to the new Pope. Next, a You To thank God and then the name of the Holy Father is announced before the Plaza de San Pedro and the entire world.