At the St. Angela Merici Parish School in the Bronx, the daily lesson is the focus for most of the 530 students, but there's an under current of excitement there because Pope Benedict the 16th will soon visit New York City, including presiding over a huge mass at Yankee Stadium just a few blocks from the school.
"For the chuch in general, it's a wonderful opportunity to have the holy father with us,"said Sister Lourdes.
Even with the Pope's visit to New York still weeks away, some of the studnets at St. Angela Merici are making plans to see the holy father in person.
The 8th graders are all abuzz abotu a letter from the New York Archdiocese giving their school 18 tickets to see the Pontiff during a youth rally at St. Joseph's Seminary in Westchester County.
"You might not have the same chance, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to see him," said Anthony Anderson, an 8th grader at the school.
Adds another 8th grader Kedijra Ramoutar, "He's like a role model to all young people in the Catholic Church."
The students say they're looking forward to hearing the Pope speak about issues important to them like gang violence, racism and world peace.
Stay with Eyewitness News and 7online.com for team coverage of the Pope's visit.
