Students from The Prout School, in Wakefield, joined peers from several area Catholic high schools in traveling to Washington, D.C., to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis following the pontiff’s historic address to Congress on Thursday, Sept. 24.
Following his address, Pope Francis, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House John Boehner, stepped out onto the Speaker’s Balcony, where he offered his blessings to a crowd of more than 25,000 who came from all over to see the pope in person. Catherine Colgan, a senior at The Prout School, described the trip as a very fulfilling experience for her. “I especially enjoyed seeing the large congregations of people, people from different backgrounds and communities, all coming together to invest their time and attention in one common faith,” Colgan told Rhode Island Catholic. “The Pope was very eloquent and humane in discussing tender topics such as immigration and the environment, and it was truly a privilege to hear him speak. I am very grateful for being given the opportunity to go on this trip.”
