LOS ANGELES – What would you say to the Pope?
Six Loyola Marymount University students will get to answer this question, as they prepare to join Pope Francis later this month in a virtual encounter with college and university students from across the Americas.
The event, titled “Building Bridges,” will bring together students from Catholic universities in North, South, and Central America for an online dialogue with the Pope on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.
During the event, which will be streamed live, Pope Francis will highlight the contributions of students who are migrants or children of migrants, and hear from students about their educational projects that seek to justly transform environmental and economic realities related to human migration and displacement.
“We are honored that Loyola Marymount University students will be able to join the Holy Father in this honest sharing of experiences and hopes,” said Cecilia Gonzalez-Andrieu, professor of Theological Studies and LMU’s faculty lead for the event. “Pope Francis’s commitment to justice resonates greatly with college and university students seeking to make their own positive impact on the world, and this event inspires us all to think of how best to build such a world.”
Six LMU students will participate in the event: Jesus “Paco” Estrada, a sophomore; Michael McCarthy, a junior; Leonardo Mendoza, a graduate student; Carolina Newton, a junior; Leslie Sepulveda, a senior; and Shayne Yano, a graduate student.
The LMU participants have been meeting with students from the West and Pacific, and the students themselves will choose their region’s spokesperson to speak with the Pope. Each regional delegation will be present and have their own time with the Pope. This encounter will provide participants with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage with the Holy Father and fellow college students from all over the Americas, and share their ideas and commitments to how working together their universities can support justice for those on the margins of society.
To schedule an interview with a student participant in English or Spanish, contact LMU Media Relations at 310.258.4636 or news@lmu.edu.
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