Some youth feel detached from pope
CHARLOTTE -- Pope Benedict XVI will be making his first visit to the United States in less than a week. Many young Catholics say they feel disconnected from the Holy Father because he’s only been pope for three years, and they hope this visit will change their outlook.
“The pope represents what we believe in, he sends out a lot of good messages,” said John Luttrell a senior at Charlotte Catholic High School.
Added senior Ali Gileta, “I think it’s hard for a lot of Catholics in America to feel really connected to Pope Benedict XVI since he is so far away and not a part of our everyday lives.”
At Charlotte Catholic, students in Patty Burns’ religion class are anticipating the upcoming visit. She says she understands her students’ feelings of disconnect.
At Charlotte Catholic, students in Patty Burns’ religion class are anticipating the upcoming visit. She says she understands her students’ feelings of disconnect.
“The only pope that they ever did know is Pope John Paul II,” she explained. Despite that, as leaders of the Catholic Church, young people are encouraged to listen and learn from the new pope.
“I really don’t know about the pope that much, so it’d be really interesting to know what he stands for,” said student Rachel Ainsworth.
News 14 Carolina’s Lisa Reyes will be traveling to Washington, D.C. to speak with Carolinians who are making the trip to see the pope, as well as local clergy. You can read more about the trip and connect with her online on her blog.