N.D. represented in Rome

It’s estimated that 1 million people or more will gather at St. Peter’s Square today for the installation Mass of Pope Francis I — and 20 students at University of Mary’s Rome campus will be there.

They will share this historic moment with 132 government delegations from around the world who will be in attendance at the Rome ceremony.

The Mass of Inauguration for the 266th successor to St. Peter, Pope Francis I, will be at 4:30 a.m. central time (9:30 a.m. Rome) today.

Grant Krebs, Jamestown, is one of the 20 students.

“We have cancelled classes on campus for Tuesday,” said Thomas Schulzetenberg, director of University of Mary’s Rome campus. “Instead, we will bring our students to the classroom — that is, St. Peter’s Square. We will be there five hours early with our state flag and wearing University of Mary apparel representing Mary and North Dakota proudly.”

Last week, Rome campus classes were held outdoors near St. Peter’s Square so students could be close by when the Catholic cardinals signaled they had named a new pope. Once the white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel they ran to the square to take part in the celebration.

Tags: news, religion