Friday, September 25, 2015
Staff report
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Three Ursuline High School students and a teacher described seeing Pope Francis as a “once in a lifetime experience” to be part of history in the making.
Aimee Morrison, a 19-year English teacher at Ursuline, and her husband, Pete, chaperoned three seniors, Alexander Schlosser, Rebeka Simon and Rachel Strollo, on the whirlwind trip. The group left from school Wednesday afternoon and saw the pope in the capital Thursday before heading back to the Valley.
Aimee Morrison said the group had tickets from U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, for the west front of the Capitol, where the pope’s speech was broadcast on huge screens. The pope also came out to the Speaker’s Balcony and waved to the crowd. Morrison said her group stopped at Ryan’s office before and after the pope’s address, and photos were taken.
“This was a first time for all of us,” Aimee Morrison said of seeing a pope. “It was a wonderful opportunity to be part of history.”
Though the Ursuline teacher said her group was far back from the pope, the crowd could “feel his presence.”
Morrison said people were praying and crying. “It was a lesson for everyone when he spoke about immigrants and Golden Rule,” Morrison said. “It’s still possible to have a dream in America.”
“You could feel his presence and kindness,” Rachel said. “He comes across as good guy.” She took video of the experience.
“It didn’t seem real,” she said of being there. “Pope Francis is humble and genuine ... he inspires me to be a kinder and better person.”
Rebeka said, “Everyone felt the power of his words. He’s not a typical speech giver. ... He takes his time so you understand his meaning.”
“He felt kind and genuine,” she said. “I felt such power in his presence.”
Rebeka continued that Pope Francis “inspires me to live by the Golden Rule.”
Alexander said, “There was such gusto in the crowd ... it was an unbelievable experience.”
The student continued that the pope’s words about immigrants — how Americans are all descendants of immigrants — was meaningful. “I felt he was saying we’re all the same ... being immigrants makes us equal with one another.
“See a part of history was amazing. ... We usually just read about it,” he said.
Morrison, who is involved with the SOS service club at Ursuline, said she believes Pope Francis’ message of kindness will inspire students in their service.
Pat Lowry, communications director for Ryan, said the congressman had a ticket for the gallery to hear the pope’s address to the joint session of Congress. That went to the Rev. Ron Nuzzi of Niles, a priest in the Diocese of Youngstown who teaches at Notre Dame University.
Ryan said, “Pope Francis called upon all Americans to be more aware of what our current policies are doing to the most vulnerable people not just in our country but around the world. We, as legislators, were called to ensure that what we do here is for the common good of all, especially for those men and women who need it the most.”
Ryan said he hoped the pope’s address “will encourage Congress to work together in pursuing a culture of care and restoring dignity to the excluded.”
U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Marietta, R-6th, said: “The pope discussed the importance of unity overcoming polarization, and [I] found that a very fitting sentiment, given the deep political divisions in Washington that prevent progress. His call for hope, and his plea that the voice of faith must continue to be heard are important, and his reminder that a nation can be great when it defends liberty like President Lincoln did resonated very much with me.”
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican from the Cincinnati area, said, “I was inspired by him and loved his discussion of public service and the need to respect differences and find common ground.”