St. Ignatius sends 6 students to Rome to witness funeral of Pope Francis
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The world continues to mourn the death of Pope Francis, including some Northeast Ohioans who are preparing to say goodbye in person.
Six students from St. Ignatius High School are preparing to fly to Italy to witness the pope's funeral firsthand, a trip that was preplanned for another purpose and almost canceled.
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'Originally, we were supposed to be going for the canonization of a young man from Milan, who himself was a graduate of a Jesuit high school,' Father Raymond Guiao said. 'But now, with everything that has happened, we will be there for the papal funeral on Saturday.'
Guiao said the group — two sophomores, two juniors and two seniors — is honored to make the trip, despite the change in plans.
'We know that this will be a trip full of deep and meaningful memories,' Guiao said.
Not only will this be a first-time experience for these six students, but they'll also witness history.
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'We're still going to get to see something pretty historical,' Senior student Noel Maddox said. 'A beloved pope just passed. We're going to be in Rome during the transition from one pope to the next. Obviously, I don't anticipate us knowing who the next pope will be during our time there. But it went from somewhat of a disappointment to an excitement where we could be part of history, which is pretty unique to me.'
Maddox and junior student Danny Sweet said the trip is also a chance to deepen their faith.
'This trip means a lot to me,' Sweet said. 'It gives me a new insight into my faith and the church— how it functions and what it stands for. I think it's a really good learning experience for me.'
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'I grew up a cradle Catholic,' Maddox said. 'I believe in the faith till the day I die. So, getting to be there with the world to celebrate his life — it means a lot. I'm really looking forward to it.'The students will be in Rome through the weekend and are scheduled to return Monday night.
FOX 8 News hopes to check in with them at some point during their trip.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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