After the decision of conclavethe chosen cardinal goes through a ritual considered essential to becoming Papa: the “Tears Room”.
This is a time when the cardinal becomes aware of the new mission and makes the exchange of clothing to go out with the pontifical robes and present himself as the new leader of the Catholic Church.
“It is important what happens, from a symbolic point of view. There, the Pope becomes aware of what he has become, what he is from now on. The change of clothes speaks of the profound change in his existence. There, he learns that the function is greater than the person,” Monsignor Marco Agostini told Vatican News.
“Crossing the” tear room “door changes a person’s life forever. It’s a very deep change,” he added.
The “tears room” is a vault and bright enclosure in which some fragments of Michelangelo frescoes are preserved. There are two lances of stairs on one side and, on the opposite wall, a window hidden by a curtain. In it is a table and two dark wood chairs, a red sofa and a clothes rack.
In a wall is a writing dated May 31, 2013 with the words: “In this room, called ‘Do Choro’ in honor of Gregory XIV, who poured tears of emotion here on December 5, 1590 as soon as he was elected Pope, the new pontiff, after accepting the election, wears his own clothes.” Look:
