This group of priests was seen waving the Canadian flag at the Pope's General Audience, but they're not all from Canada.
Fr. Jeremiah Boland and Fr. Shaun Haggerty come from the United States. They are part of a larger group of English-speaking priests who have come to Rome to continue their theological studies.
FR. JEREMIAH BOLAND
'Today we celebrated Mass at the tomb of St. Peter, and then we got to see the Vicar of Christ, what a day.'
Fr. Haggerty even brought a gift to give Pope Francis at the Audience: prayer cards written by children from the Catholic school where he works in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
FR. SHAUN HAGGERTY
'As a pastor I'm always really busy and have a lot of responsibilities, so it's so helpful to know that people are praying for you, and I want the Holy Father to know that we are praying for you, it is a tough job, and he's not alone, and Jesus Christ is with him.'
Fr. Boland says he was struck by hearing the Pope's catechesis translated into so many languages while at the General Audience, a reminder of the diversity of the Church.
FR. JEREMIAH BOLAND
'We'll come back hopefully renewed and energized and feeling the connection to the universal Church. Sometimes you get so focused on your little part of the world, and one of the beautiful things about coming to Rome is you realize you're part of this incredible force of good in the world.'
Wherever they return to, these priests hope to bring the spirit of Rome, and a papal blessing, back to their home communities.
JM
