The Chicago students whose mock conclave gained international attention finally met Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City. CBS News Chicago's Noel Brennan, who first shared their story, reflects on how it reached all the way to Rome.

Rome

Students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in Chicago, who previously went viral for organizing a mock conclave, traveled to Vatican City where they met Pope Leo XIV. The visit included attending a public papal audience and a personal interaction with the Pope, who briefly wore one of the students' cardinal hats.

The story, reported by CBS News Chicago's Noel Brennan, highlights the excitement and significance of the trip for the students and their families. The event, which began as a school activity, culminated in an unforgettable experience at St. Peter's Square, illustrating the far-reaching impact of their imaginative project.

Chicago students who went viral for mock conclave meet Pope Leo

Remember when we told you back in May about these students from Chicago who went viral for their mock conclave? Well, their dreams came true Wednesday when they got to meet the Pope himself in Vatican City. Noel Brennan, a reporter from CBS News Chicago, has this incredible story. A field trip to Rome will be impossible to forget for students at Chicago's Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy. I don't even know what to say. We just met the Pope. Like, what? But in a way, these kids feel like they've been here before. It is time for our conclave to begin. In May, their school organized a mock conclave. Let the Holy Spirit be with you. Kids dressed as cardinals and felt real pressure in picking a Pope. Fear! Soon after students selected Pope Augustus Wilk, cardinals elected Pope Leo XIV, a fellow Chicagoan from the Order of St. Augustine. We found a Pope from Chicago? USA! News of the mini conclave made it all the way to Rome. Ah, just getting ready for it. The kids made it here too. Whoa. And they've brought their cardinal costumes with them. God bless you all. The students have special seats for a public papal audience, but it turns into a meet and greet with Pope Leo. I shook his hand and then I took off my hat and then he wore it for a couple of seconds and then he gave it back to me. So that was pretty cool. And that's the one that I'm wearing right now. How do you top a field trip taken to heavenly heights? I don't think you do. Noel Brennan, CBS News, Chicago. That amazing reporter, Noel Brennan, he never misses. He's so, so good. I was texting or trying to text him this morning, like, Noel, can we have you on? What's going on? And the producer told me like, yes, we tried to reach him. He's on a plane coming back to Chicago from Rome. But he did send us this video, which really sums up his reaction to this whole journey. Take a look. The fact that this story made it all the way to the Vatican, that kind of blew my mind. And I know for these kids and their families, this was a trip of a lifetime to go to Rome and to sit in on a general audience with Pope Leo right here in St. Peter's Square. What an amazing experience for those kids. And I gotta tell you, as a reporter, just watching it, it was unbelievable to see and to tell this story through those kids' eyes. I never expected to be reporting here at the Vatican, never expected to see the Popemobile pass right in front of me. And I just think about how it all started with these kids who had big imaginations. I love it. Yeah, it sounds like big ambitions from that reporter as well. And he's doing a great job when he goes to Rome as well. Absolutely, we love them. Congratulations to everyone from that team in Chicago. Those kids, so great.

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