On May 24, 2025, a group of Catholic pilgrims from Waterbury, Connecticut, found themselves at the heart of a historic moment in the Catholic Church. What began as a long-planned pilgrimage to Italy’s sacred sites, timed to coincide with the Vatican Jubilee—a tradition held every 25 years—turned into an extraordinary experience as they arrived in Rome during the election of Pope Leo XIV. Their story, shared through USA TODAY, captures the intersection of faith, timing, and the unexpected beauty of being part of history.
The group, organized by Father Patrick Kane of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury, had been preparing for this trip for two years. The Vatican Jubilee, a significant event in the Catholic calendar, dates back to 1300 and typically involves a pilgrimage to Rome for a year of forgiveness and renewal. Historically, jubilees have been held every 25 or 50 years, with notable celebrations in 1925, 1950, and 2000, as documented by Wikipedia. For these American travelers, the Jubilee was a chance to visit hallowed sites like St. Peter’s Basilica, San Giovanni Rotondo, and the ruins of Pompeii, while deepening their spiritual connection.
However, the timing of their journey took on a profound new meaning when Pope Francis passed away, and the conclave to elect his successor began. On May 8, 2025, just as the group was touring Italy, white smoke curled from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV—an American pope, a rarity in the Church’s history. Bobbi Hanisek, a 76-year-old lifelong Catholic from the group, described the experience as overwhelming. “Even though we didn’t see the smoke or the new pope in person, the feeling of being there was in everybody’s heart,” she told USA TODAY. She likened the spiritual magnitude of the trip to visiting Disneyland as an adult after years of anticipation, but “magnified” for a Catholic.
Father Kane, 39, had a closer view of the historic moment. Initially in Rome to attend the canonization of Carlo Acutis, a teenage sports fan turned saint, Kane’s plans shifted when he joined the global faithful in mourning Pope Francis. He visited the late pope’s body lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica and later witnessed Pope Leo XIV’s first appearance on the balcony. “I managed to flag down a taxi, and they got me pretty close, but it was chaos,” Kane recalled. Standing in St. Peter’s Square with fellow priests from his diocese, he felt a mix of excitement and wonderment. “It was meant to be,” he said, reflecting on the serendipity of the moment.
For Greg Hanisek, Bobbi’s husband and a retired journalist with a passion for birdwatching, the trip offered an unexpected bonus. Amid the spiritual journey, he documented sightings of yellow-legged gulls, a species common in the Mediterranean, as noted in Wikipedia. These large birds, with a wingspan of nearly five feet, became an internet sensation during the conclave, perching on statues and even the Sistine Chapel chimney. Greg, who had studied European bird guides before the trip, also spotted four yelkouan shearwaters during a ferry ride to Positano and Amalfi—a rare treat for a birder in the Mediterranean.
The Vatican, meanwhile, maintained its tradition of secrecy during the conclave, using signal jammers to block communication, as reported by WIRED on April 23, 2025. With modern technology like satellites capable of capturing faces from space, the Vatican’s low-tech solution—closing doors and windows—remained effective in preserving the conclave’s confidentiality.
For the Connecticut pilgrims, this journey was a testament to the power of faith and timing. As Bobbi Hanisek reflected, the shared prayers of millions around the world resonated in their hearts, making their pilgrimage a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In the shadow of St. Peter’s Basilica, they witnessed history unfold, proving that some moments are, indeed, meant to be.
