-“I cordially greet Polish pilgrims, especially the students present here, brothers and sisters.”
Pope Francis greeted a group of Polish students at his General Audience. They are part of the Polish community which meets weekly at the church of St. Stanislaus in Rome.
FR. THOMAS PODLEWSKI
“We pray together, we meet, we talk about important things for our faith, also about church. Sometimes we also meet with pizza. And I think it´s a great group for us to integrate our Polish environment of Polish students here in Rome and grow up.”
They were very happy with the greeting Pope Francis dedicated to them at the Audience.
IZA HRYCIUK
Student at the Angelicum in Rome
“Yeah, it was a very, very beautiful feeling because we felt like we were a group, together. He said the name of our community and that we are Polish students”.
The group organizer is Fr. Pawel Ptasznik. He has been working at the Vatican for 30 years and is also the Pope's Polish interpreter.
FR. THOMAS PODLEWSKI
Student of Angelicum in Rome and priest
“It was a special gift for us after our first semester and at the beginning of the second semester, to hear the name of our community from the Pope and it was very important for us.”
The Pope's shout-outs give visibility to student groups and different communities present in Rome.
FR. THOMAS PODLEWSKI
Student of Angelicum in Rome and priest
“When people hear that the Pope sees and talks to students, in this time, somebody can think: 'Maybe I will also study in Rome or maybe I will also live here and meet the Pope.' So I think it´s important not only for our community of Polish students, but for the idea of national groups of student here in the Diocese of Rome.”
They are happily returning to their studies, hopeful that they will one day have the opportunity to speak with the Pope.
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