Divine: When a La Crosse Franciscan Sister Experiences the Conclave (and is on National News)

What was a trip to Italy for conference for one of our La Crosse Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration became a once-in-a-lifetime experience …. twice.

Sister Sue Ernster had an 18-day trip to Italy planned when the unexpected passing of Pope Francis occurred. She was there when the conclave began, gathering with about 1,000 fellow sisters to learn in a nearby building.

La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk wherever you get your podcasts.

Ernster says the city was abuzz, but the journalists Sister Sue had a chance to speak to did not have the man formerly known as Robert Prevost on their list of possible popes.

The religious conference was monitoring the conclave and the color of the smoke coming from the inner chambers of the Vatican — which indicates whether a new pope was selected. When it emerged white, indicating the leaders chose a new pope, Sister Sue headed to the Vatican to see the “Americano” Pope Leo emerge.

Sister Sue was eating at a restaurant the next day with a fellow Wisconsin Franciscan Sister when approached by NBC’s 20/20 journalist David Muir to provide an American perspective on the Pope announcement.

Ernster spoke on WIZM’s La Crosse Talk about how she believes the Holy Spirit is at work having an American Pope when the world looks to the United States.

She believes having a Pope from Chicago is inspirational for many Catholics and holds great hope for what is ahead for Pope Leo XIV.

La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk wherever you get your podcasts.