I am Catholic. Not bipolar.

In the past 30 days, almost every emotion has passed. Some were very intense. Others were mildly present. It all began on April 13. Then it was Palm Sunday. I was happy because it was almost Easter. But then it became Maundy Thursday. After the festive Mass, we went to commemorate the suffering and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It was an intense evening. By Good Friday, I was a little sad. And on Silent Saturday was empty. But on the night, I was happy. It was Easter. Christ had risen. I was exhausted from carrying the Paschal candle and ornamenting under the exultet. On Easter Sunday, I said goodbye because I would be in Rome for the canonization of Carlo Acutis on Easter Day (April 27).

On Easter Monday (April 21), the news came that Pope Francis died at 7:35 in the morning. I felt very sad and depressed that day. On the following Friday (April 25) was the requiem mass at St. Christopher Cathedral in Roermond. It was a fraught celebration. I was a little disappointed because the canonization of Carlo Acutis that I so wanted to go to didn't happen. But the next day we went anyway.

We arrived in Rome on Saturday evening (April 26). We had missed the funeral of Pope Francis. But despite everything, it was a very blessed trip. There is much more about that in my previous blog. I enjoyed a few more days.

On Wednesday, May 7, the conclave in Rome began, and I watched the chimney anxiously. Black smoke kept coming out. On Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 18:08, white smoke came out. My heart skipped a beat for a moment. I watched the Habemus Papam with joy. It was really very special.

So it is understandable that it was a roller coaster of emotions. Well, at some moments you also get a little angry or irritated, but there was also sadness, depression, joy, gladness, love, infatuation, gratitude, pride and what other emotions can be imagined. So yes, this is really a Catholic way of experiencing the emotions.