Pope honours Stonyhurst at Jubilee celebrations

Stonyhurst College has been singled out by the Pope for a special mention at an audience at St Peter's Basilica.  And the Jesuit school was honoured further when one of its pupils was chosen to represent Jesuit students worldwide and was presented to Pope Benedict after High Mass in the Basilica last Saturday [22 April, the Feast of Our Lady, Mother of the Society of Jesus, and the date upon which the original Jesuits took their first vows].

Angela Page, in her last year at the College, arrived in the Vatican on the Friday evening, with 90 other pupils, parents, staff and alumni, after a four day walking pilgrimage from Orvieto under the spiritual guidance of three of the College's chaplains.  They had led the group in Ignatian meditation and prayer on the way, each day beginning with a family Mass in churches along the route and ending with night prayers in the chapels of the convents where the group stayed.  The group ranged in age from 9 to 78 and walked as one through the Italian countryside, following the ancient pilgrim route to Rome, the Via Francigena, covering up to 18 miles a day.  On the Friday evening, they entered St.  Peter's Square, singing Jubilate Deo and waving flags and banners, to be greeted by some 90 other pilgrims from Stonyhurst who had flown straight to Rome for the occasion.

The following day, the Stonyhurst contingent, identified by their green and white scarves, sat in a block of seats near the front of St Peter's which was packed for the occasion.  After a dignified Mass presided over by Cardinal Sodano, Vatican Secretary of State, with nearly 300 Jesuit priests concelebrating, the Pope arrived to joyful applause to give to all assembled a special audience.  Father General Peter Hans Kolvenbach SJ, in a simple black Jesuit gown welcomed Pope Benedict, who then thanked and praised the Society of Jesus for its key role in the life of the Catholic Church over the last 500 years and who spoke about the continuing importance of the apostolate of the Society of Jesus in terms of spirituality and education.

The Pope also welcomed the friends of the Society, including all alumni and alumnae, to the celebration, uniquely mentioning Stonyhurst by name.  He then personally greeted a representative group of Jesuits and friends including Angela Page.

'It was a humbling but inspiring moment, an amazing privilege to have been chosen,' said Angela afterwards.