Students on pilgrimage want to pray with Pope

 A GROUP of 15 students from Divine Word University in Madang has requested the Vatican to pray with Pope Francis on his morning mass when they visit next month.

They travel on a pilgrimage to Rome from June 14-21 for the Year of Faith.

They want to pray with Pope Francis at his usual morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta while in Rome.

The group is from the Arts, Health and Business faculties. They will visit Vatican City (Basilica, Musei, etc), Rome, Assisi and Nettuno to pray at the tomb of St Maria Goretti, who is patron of the youths in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

The request for prayer with the Pope was forwarded through the Apostolic Nunciature channels on May 1. 

University chaplain Fr Giorgio Licini said the students noted: “We come from very far and will never go back to Rome again. Can we pray with Pope Francis?”

He explained to them how difficult it would be.

He said he noted from the internet that those admitted to the Pope’s morning Mass are usually Vatican employees or people residing in Rome.  

The students hope that Pope Francis and his staff will consider the distance they have travelled and the once in a life time opportunity before them.