Dell Rapids St. Mary students learn about conclave

DELL RAPIDS, S.D. (KELO) — The process to elect a new leader of the Catholic church is underway.
More than 130 cardinals make up the conclave that will choose the next pope.
The meeting comes more than two weeks after the death of Pope Francis.
Energy co-op talks data center boom in SD
St. Mary elementary students in Dell Rapids got a special lesson on day one of the papal conclave.
Parish pastor and school superintendent Father Shane Stevens showed kids in grades Pre-K through 6 a live view of the chimney that will eventually indicate when a new pope is chosen.
It was part of his afternoon discussion with the kids about the conclave and some of the history of the papacy.
'I think it was really cool and very interesting to learn how they do it,' 4th Grader Kate Burgard said.
'We live in a very visual world, and I was saying to the children how amazing it is that I can literally be watching live from Rome in South Dakota what's going on over there. And so it's very visual, and our children are very visual. They have grown up with tablets and internet and YouTube so to see all of this unfold before them, I think, is really exciting. I'm 51 and I'm very excited,' Stevens said.
While the hierarchy of the Catholic church is already integrated into the curriculum at St. Mary Catholic Schools, this moment in time provides a unique learning opportunity.
'It's a pretty important, and I think significant role in the world, so to try to impress that upon them and for them to understand this is a part of their heritage, part of their tradition is really exciting,' Stevens said.
Earlier Wednesday, black smoke billowed out of the chimney, meaning the cardinals have not elected a new pope yet.
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