Moments after his election as Pope, Francis stepped out of the Sistine Chapel, through the Sala Regia, and into the Pauline Chapel. A throne had been set up for him but instead he asked the two cardinals accompanying him to sit and pray with him on the back pew. Eye witnesses have described what happened next in terms of a transformation. “At that moment he’s a different person,” Vatican communications prefect Mgr Dario Viganò, who was filming the moment, said later. “It’s as if God had said to him personally, ‘Don’t worry, I’m here with you.’” After a short time of silent prayer, Francis stood up and turned round to prepare to greet the world.