By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Two diocesan seminarians recently met Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.
Seminarians Jacob Schneider and Dylan Stefanich met Pope Leo XIV. Schneider met Pope Leo during his time in the Rome Experience this summer. Stefanich met Pope Leo in August. Stefanich is currently in seminary formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
A Class of 2028 seminarian currently studying at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Schneider and other seminarians at this summer’s Rome Experience met Pope Leo June 8. They were scheduled to attend Pope Leo’s Wednesday audience June 8. After receiving upgraded tickets, they were seated on the west side of Pope Leo’s canopy, less than 100 feet away, Schneider said.
Schneider said in preparation for the chance to see the pope at the audience, some of the group got together to make a poster for the occasion. Schneider said with the heat of the day getting to their group, they made preparations to split up for lunch. They were then approached by one of the ushers for the Vatican, who led them to a line that went up to the steps of St. Peter’s, where groups were meeting with Pope Leo up close.
“At the end of the day, none of that meeting had been intended to happen,” Schneider said. “Yet somehow, we were in the right place at the right time and around the right people. Getting to meet and shake hands with the first American pope up close added another layer to an already monumental encounter, knowing that this man comes from the Midwestern region where I call home.”
Schneider said having the opportunity to meet our new Pontiff while also studying at the heart of the Roman Catholic Church impacted his outlook on seminary formation in small ways. Schneider referenced Pope Leo’s Jubilee of Seminarians Meditation on June 24, titled “Altar of the Confession in Saint Peter’s Basilica.” Schneider noted in the speech, Pope Leo said, “If you cultivate your heart through daily periods of silence, meditation and prayer, you will learn the heart of discernment.”
“I have continued to ponder these words, even months later,” Schneider said. “And now I see how this cultivation has both overlapped in my current period of discernment as well as in my pastoral responsibilities here at St. Meinrad.”
A class of 2029 seminarian, Stefanich met Pope Leo XIV Aug. 24 in the Sala Clementina, which is where Pope Leo hosts guests for private audiences.
“For several years now, the Pope has graciously received the first year seminarians from the Pontifical North American College in a private audience at the beginning of the academic year,” Stefanich said. “Along with those first years, some of us second year seminarians were also able to attend.”
Stefanich said they were informed they would meet Pope Leo about two days before the audience. While some of the second year seminarians knew this was a possibility, they were not sure until it was confirmed by the Vatican.
Stefanich said it was a blessing to meet Pope Leo. He added meeting the first American pope was “certainly an amazing experience.”
“During our audience, Pope Leo XIV encouraged us to persevere through the difficult times of seminary,” Stefanich said. “It was a simple message, but he shared it with joy, humility and a deep gratitude for his own calling to Christ’s holy priesthood. It really appeared to us that this was our father, and he was simply enjoying the time with his son. Beautiful experience.”