Baltimore Students Travel To Philly To Greet Pope Francis

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--As Pope Francis makes his way to the third stop on his U.S. tour, a bus load of Baltimore-area students are headed to Philadelphia to greet the pontiff.

As Gigi Barnett reports, the students say seeing the Holy Father up close could inspire them to do something good.

An early morning bus ride will take Loyola-Blakefield students to see the pope this weekend.

Their final destination: Philadelphia, where the pontiff will make his third and final stop on his U.S. tour.

"If I could at least get a glimpse of him or at least hear his voice. I would be completely amazed," said Anton Hermoso, Loyola-Blakefield student.

As so many were this week when the pope visited the nation's capital and then the Big Apple.

About 150 students, parents and teachers from Loyola-Blakefield will travel to the city of Brotherly Love to get a glance at the Pope Francis.

The catholic, all-boys school says the opportunity for students to see their Holy Father is unmatched.

"I want them to take the pope's message to heart. I really want them to see the pope's humility," said Benjamin Horgan, Director of Mission & Identity.

Alessandro Lezzati says his mom wanted him to see the pope because she had the same experience years before.

"She saw Pope John Paul and she wanted me to see Pope Francis. So, I said yes," he said.

The school says it started selling bus tickets to see the pope last month. Within 48 hours, they were all sold out.

"Hopefully we'll get a spot close to the road on that parade route and, we'll be able to view the pope," said Lezzati.

And when they come back they'll get the chance to live out the pope's message.

"Maybe I can start a club after I see him. And, I hope I learn something new. Something that will make us closer to god, I guess."

Some Loyola-Blakefield alumni will also be on the bus to Philly this weekend. Some of them are traveling from South Carolina to get on the bus.