Mater Dei High School Students

Editor’s note: Upper grade level students at Mater Dei High School in Evansville wrote essays about Pope Francis’ recent visit to the United States. Here are some excerpts.

• As I watched the Pope address Congress today, I couldn’t help but think about how he discussed the idea of family. It seems as though the importance of family has become lost in society. The idea of family has been masked by a haze of greed, pride and lust. Pope Francis has been quoted in saying that the family is “an inestimable and irreplaceable good.” Rob Bow

• I could see how much faith he had and it made me realize that great people still exist in this world and God must certainly not only have a plan for our country, but instead He has a plan for the whole world. Lauren Jarboe

• . . . He showed courage to come to America during a time of moral conflict. He portrayed the Catholic tradition well through his speech. It was amazing to see the number of people who are believers, like me, in our God. I was proud and renewed in my faith. Tanner Rexing

• One of the issues he approached was the death penalty. Before he mentioned the death penalty, he highlighted that every life was sacred in God’s eyes and every person is born with dignity. Through the death penalty, we are terminating the lives of criminals, which could possibly be rehabilitated into new persons. Anna McAtee

• The pope wishes for nothing more than to help people understand the value of marriage and family life. We must teach the people in our society that children are a “supreme gift,” and that marriage is not something to be tossed in the trash. Marriage is a full time job with trials and tribulations all along the way; however, it is through these trials and tribulations that a couple’s love for one another grows stronger. Megan Weinzapfel

• Respecting the dignity of others is a point Pope Francis emphasizes. I believe respecting human life is the most compelling message he presented to America because it was relevant to every issue he discussed and would aid in solving many of the problems. After listening to Pope Francis speak, one cannot help but to feel closer to God. He was not talking down to us or reprimanding us; rather he was talking to America. Pope Francis was so down to earth he makes his holiness seem attainable to anyone. Rachel Goedde

• “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” While giving his speech to Congress Pope Francis reminded them of the Golden Rule. He referred to that rule when discussing immigration and refugees from Syria, which has become a hot topic in many political debates. We as a nation need to see those people not as numbers, but by their stories. They want freedom and safety for their families just as we would if we were in their conditions. Abby Burnett

• Through his message, I have a new-found respect for every human no matter what the circumstance may be. If everyone on the planet could share in this view and follow the pope’s plan, the world would truly be a happier and better place. Brett Weinzapfel

• As I listened to the pope speak, I felt my faith grow immensely stronger . . . . it was an empowering feeling knowing he was addressing us and giving us specific guidance . . . . I could not have felt more confident about my faith and more secure. His humble, selfless nature and unyielding devotion to God just reminded me of how I yearn to act every day in my own life. Lindsey Deig