Local Teens Share Stories Of Pope's U.S. Visit

KALAMAZOO (Newschannel 3) - Last week, 57,000 worshippers filled Yankee Stadium with Pope Benedict the 16th to celebrate Sunday mass, and among those in the crowd were two students from Kalamazoo's Hackett Catholic High School.

The high school juniors, Mark West and Brayden Scott, are now home to share their stories.

"It was so much more impressive then regular Sunday mass," said West. "He was very commending of people in the U.S., he's grown to appreciate the church in America."

The teens say this was a chance for them to understand Pope Benedict, because before now, the only pope they were familiar with was John Paul the Second.

"I think people know who Pope Benedict is, because of this visit, " said West. "He's really reached out in a moving way to the people of this country, and I know that he definitely inspired me."

And Scott says that inspiration was even greater, because he was able to experience it in person.

"it's definitely an experience when you are there, (rather) than when you are seeing it on TV," he said. "It's more like you are listening to him, his words are directly to you."

West received the tickets to see the Pope from a family friend and priest in the Detroit area.