Papal Visit Excitement Reflected in Commencement Festivities

Enthusiasm for Pope Francis’s upcoming visit to Washington, D.C., was reflected in the Commencement ceremonies for the Catholic University Class of 2015, which took place only a few weeks following the announcement that the Holy Father would be celebrating Mass a stone’s throw away from University pathways that students walk every day.

During his opening prayer at the May 16 Commencement ceremony, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, University chancellor, stood on the steps of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception looking over the campus of CUA. He reminded students that “In four months’ time, we’re going to have a special guest.”

“He’s going to be standing here celebrating Mass and looking out over our campus,” Cardinal Wuerl said. “Pope Francis will be here to celebrate with all of us and I ask you, the class of 2015, when you look at your diplomas, always to remember that this was the year, your year, that the Pope chose to come and visit our country and your campus.”

Rev. Jude DeAngelo, O.F.M. Conv., addresses graduates during the Baccalaureate Mass.

Rev. Jude DeAngelo, O.F.M. Conv., University chaplain, also referenced the upcoming papal visit while addressing graduates during his homily at the Baccalaureate Mass, which took place in the Basilica on May 15. He congratulated members of the Class of 2015 on their willingness to “wrestle with many of life’s important questions.”

“But, today I admit to you that your four years of education cannot give you the answer to one of the most pressing questions of our time,” he said. “No one in the administration, the faculty, or the staff … can give you the answer to the following important life question: ‘How can you secure tickets to see the Pope on September 23rd?’”

Joking, Father DeAngelo encouraged graduates to “forget all of the advice you received about intellectual pursuit as a lifelong vocation and stop asking, calling, e-mailing and texting us” and to simply wait for new information about the papal visit to be announced on the University website.