St Mary’s Students Share Joy of Papal Inauguration in Rome

Students from St Mary’s University College, Twickenham were among the crowds which congregated for the inauguration of Pope Francis in Vatican City on Tuesday 19^th March 2013. More than 50 St Mary’s students, in Rome as part of a Theology and Religious Studies trip led by Programme Director, Paul Rowan, witnessed the inauguration of Pope Francis as Pontiff in St Peter’s Square, Vatican City. They joined an open-air congregation of world leaders, priests and an estimated 500,000 worshippers. St Mary’s student Charlie-May Hallam-Flaherty was quoted by the Guardian as saying of the Pope, “I love him. He connects with people. I’m just in awe of him.” Another St Mary’s student, Hayley Dawson, was quoted by the London Evening Standard as saying, “He seems so humble. He seems like a man who knows the poor. This really does seem like a change for the church.” Fellow University College student Ellie Roberts said, “It looks like he’s really enjoying himself. He seems relaxed.” Famous figures who attended the inauguration included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US Vice-President Joe Biden, French Premier Jean-Marc Ayrault and Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster.