Apr 17, 2008 5:30 pm US/Central
Suburban Students Get Ready For Trip To See Pope
Benedict's U.S. Visit Is Touching Catholics In Chicago Area From Afar
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Pope Benedict XVI greets schoolchildren as he departs after celebrating Mass at Nationals Park April 17, 2008, in Washington, D.C.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Even those who won't get to see Pope Benedict XVI in person are feeling his spirit here in Chicago.
CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports as the Pope celebrated a mass in Washington, D.C. Thursday, the captivated more than the thousands of faithful in his presence.
At the same hour as the service in Washington 1,800 Catholic school students gathered in Portage Park to celebrate Pope Benedict's visit to America.
"It just seems like he's a very religious man -- well obviously, he's the pope," said Shannon Cairns of St. Bartholomew School.
"His visit is a big deal and if we don't do anything it gets caught in the shadows," said Father Jason Malave of St. Bartholomew.
Admittedly the students don't know as much about this pope as they did his predecessor, but somehow Benedict's presence in this country manages to touch their lives.
"It makes me feel good that I'm not part of a small group, I am in a big group," said Ryan Nikolich of St. Edwards School.
At Northridge Prep in Morton Grove, 80 students and teachers are doing more than worshipping form afar -- they're traveling to New York Friday with tickets for the Pope's mass there this weekend.
"It's a pilgrimage so we want to self sacrifice," said sophomore John Romano, who says the students will all be leaving their iPods behind.
But in their young hearts they've already been moved by a man they've never met, but whose presence may leave a lasting impression.
"If you really know your leader, he's the leader of the church it helps you get closer to your faith," Romano said.
At Northridge Prep they tried back in the fall to get tickets for one of the papal masses but they could only find four. Then a last-minute call in March brought them 80 unexpected tickets. There was one catch -- they had to have all the names and documentation ready in only 48 hours. They did.
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