The Night the Church Changed Forever

On March 13, 2013, a Jesuit from Buenos Aires stepped onto the loggia of St. Peter's and subverted 1200 years of papal ceremony with a single act of humility — and the Church has never been the same.

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Thirteen years ago tonight, the loggia doors at St. Peter’s opened and a 76-year-old cardinal from Buenos Aires looked out at 100,000 rain-soaked pilgrims and said: “Buonasera!”

Good evening.