Students from Windsor touchdown in Rome following the election of the new Pope within a day's time.
Rewritten Article:
Here's a twist on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for a bunch of high school students from Windsor: they find themselves smack dab in the epicenter of history, right at the heels of Pope Leo XIV's coronation, the first American-born pontiff.
Forty eager students from St. Joseph's Catholic High School landed in Rome on May 9, around 11 a.m., Central European Summer Time. Mind you, this was less than 24 hours since a puff of white smoke signaled the election of Pope Leo XIV, turning the City of Vatican into a whirlwind of excitement.
These students had bid their goodbyes from their Windsor high school at 10:30 a.m. on May 8, stepped onto a flight in Toronto by 7:30 p.m., and voilà, they magically appeared in Rome the next morning, amidst the city's ongoing dance of celebration.
When asked if she ever dreamt the trip would align with the coronation of a new pope, Grade 12 student Ceyda Yilmaz laughed, "Absolutely not."
"Can you imagine? I never thought it was something we'd ever get to see," Yilmaz shared.
"But, you know, it's undeniably cool that we do."
Her classmate, Tessa Ferrone, admitted that the possibility of a papal transition wasn't even on their radar when the group first planned their school's annual overseas sojourn.
"When the Pope passed and we knew the conclave was going to happen, I thought perhaps we'd catch glimpses of it on the news," she said, two hours after touch-down in Rome.
"But the fact that it happened so quickly and we're right here in the thick of it is… well, it's downright crazy!"
Now in its 12th year, the trip is helmed by a rotating squad of department heads, covering history, languages, and the arts. It's open to senior students in Grades 11 and 12. The destination shuffles each year, with this year's itinerary spanning ten days, comprising eight touring days in Italy and Greece, and two travel days.
The Vatican segment of the tour includes visits to the museums and St. Peter's Basilica, alas, access to the Sistine Chapel was restricted due to the recent conclave.
Yilmaz shared that the spiritual depth of the trip transcends her personal beliefs.
"I go to a Catholic high school, but I'm not Catholic myself," she explained.
"Being there, witnessing the faith firsthand, it's something genuinely awe-inspiring to experience."
Yilmaz added that the students felt the weight of the moment during even the chaotic episodes.
"We were at the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, and it was so bustling we actually lost half our group," she revealed.
"But honestly, that's part of the fun. Just knowing we were there during such a monumental moment made it worth it."
Ferrone commented that the surrealness of the experience multiplies knowing how closely it's being watched back home by family.
"My grandparents are glued to the TV, and I can say, 'While I was there, they were filming the exact scene you're watching on the news.' That's insane!"
Jessica Owchar, the school's department head of arts and one of the four teacher-chaperones on the trip, shared that the tour was initially scheduled to align with the Jubilee Year, a traditional Catholic pilgrimage year committed to hope and renewal.
"We were planning this trip because we knew it was the Jubilee Year," she said.
"Pilgrims of Hope was what we were aiming for."
However, Pope Francis' demise on Easter Monday reshaped not only the Church but the purpose of the trip itself.
"All of a sudden, we went from talking about Michelangelo's Last Judgment to discussing the funeral arrangements and the start of the conclave!" Owchar laughed.
"To have them actually here just after a conclave is history in the making. It's something they can talk about forever, and pass on to future generations."
Owchar mentioned that many students on the trip have siblings who were a part of previous editions, and some like Ferrone, are making the journey for a second time.
"You think you'll get used to it," she admitted.
"But with a moment like this, none of us will ever forget it."
- The news of Pope Leo XIV's coronation, the first American-born pontiff, has transformed the students' educational tour into an unprecedented historical event.
- Ceyda Yilmaz, a Grade 12 student, expressed her surprise at experiencing the coronation during their travel, stating, "But, you know, it's undeniably cool that we do."
- Tessa Ferrone, her classmate, admitted that the prospect of a papal transition was not initially considered during the planning of the school's annual overseas sojourn.
- The students, amidst the celebration in Rome, found themselves in the heart of general-news events, making their educational-and-self-development tour a blend of politics, learning, and travel.
- Jessica Owchar, the school's department head of arts, acknowledged the significant impact of the event, stating, "To have them actually here just after a conclave is history in the making. It's something they can talk about forever, and pass on to future generations."
