Canisius High School students receive Pope Francis' final blessing during trip to Rome
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A group of Canisius High School students are still in awe from their trip to the Vatican on Easter Sunday, where they witnessed Pope Francis give his final blessing.
Pope Francis died on Monday at 88 years old after he suffered a stroke. Western New Yorkers and local Catholics have been honoring his legacy and mourning him since.
'To see him in person was truly a blessing,' said high school sophomore Gabriele Pili. 'I've never seen a pope before and to see him was truly remarkable.'
'Now knowing that that was his last blessing, his last day, I really don't know how I feel about it. It's amazing,' said high school junior Anthony Pepe.
Every year during Easter break, students from Canisius High School embark on an educational trip somewhere around the world. This year, the trip just so happened to be in Italy.
On Sunday, the group attended Easter mass and then saw the late Pope Francis give his blessing in Saint Peter's Square.
'To have him come out and give that blessing, it was pretty moving,' said Craig Hinchcliffe, a leader of the trip and history teacher at Canisius High School.
'It was amazing, being there present for the blessing,' Pepe said.
'It was just nice to see all the people, different backgrounds, different places, whether from Italy, Ethiopia, Australia — just coming together to see the pope and to celebrate God's grace,' said high school freshman Jayden Munyana.
Leading up to the trip, the school wasn't sure the Pope Francis would even be there, which is what made this moment even more meaningful.
'It truly felt special to see him alive,' Pili said.
Students and faculty are still processing what they experienced, but said it's a moment they'll never forget.
Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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