I was blessed to go to all the public events of Pope Francis in DC and the concluding Mass in Philadelphia. While there I went around with a microphone asking people what they thought about Pope Francis or what made them get up to see him. Why did I do this? I have 3 reasons: most of all, I wanted to get the message of the positive Pope Francis was doing out there; second, I got a press pass which let me make asking for an interview seem more natural, and finally, I was invited to be part of the #GoodIsWinning Digital Street Team started by @popeishope to send out such messages. The point of the #GoodIsWinning DST was to have a bunch of young people out there getting the positive stories related to Francis’s visit. Here are some of the best responses in no particular order.
#1. This Amazing Nun
This nun was so humble that she initially said “no” when I asked to interview her. Her reason was she needed the superior’s permission. She had the best spiritual reason for being excited about Francis: he brings the joy of Christ!
Francis is a special presence of Christ who brings joy & peace, days a nun. #PopeInPhilly #GoodIsWinning @AleteiaEN pic.twitter.com/RgqeTcn16X
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 27, 2015
#2. This non-Catholic who sees Francis as the message of Christ. She was really happy to go on microphone because she was so excited. This was still an hour or so before Francis came by for only a minute.
“He’s the message of Christ” -this non-Catholic woman is inspired by Francis. #PopeInDC #GoodIsWinning @popeishope pic.twitter.com/DpaTV31OHq — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 25, 2015
#3. This youth minister from Cleveland who thought Francis greets each like a long-lost friend.
Walking back from the Sunday Mass, I see this young lady in a group and she starts talking about why she was so excited about Francis. I was thinking “Wow, this is an amazing response.” Yet, when I ask her to go on video, she almost refuses out of shyness.
To Pope Francis each person seems like a long lost friend. #PopeInPhilly #GoodIsWinning @popeishope @AleteiaEN pic.twitter.com/H57mtZGL4W
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 27, 2015
#4. This young man who wants to be Pope. As I was talking to this young man, he says he wants to be a priest and then Pope. He was brought up in a mixed marriage and chose the faith in elementary school so he could become Pope.
This boy wants to be Pope. He said #PopeFrancis is his role model. #PopeInDC #GoodIsWinning @popeishope #papalvisit… pic.twitter.com/6ppmzVyBp7 — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 24, 2015
#5. This young lady was excited about Pope Francis having dinner with the homeless.
Pope Francis’s dinner with the homeless touched this young lady. #PopeInPhilly #GoodIsWinning @popeishope @AleteiaEN pic.twitter.com/pmP1xtMhUD
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 27, 2015
#6. A fellow Tweep (twitter user) who recognized me. She felt connected to the universal Church seeing Francis.
Seeing Pope Francis made this young lady feel connected to the universal Church. #PopeInDC #GoodIsWinning @popeishope pic.twitter.com/Rg9H3XhdII — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 24, 2015
#7. My former professor
In the tweet I just list him as a priest from our Seminary (@lccheshire) but he was there back when I was there in 2001-2004. He’s great with music and languages. I did the technical part on recording a CD to model proper Gregorian Chant for the Legion worldwide. He thinks Francis is opening hearts.
A priest from @lccheshire thinks that #PopeFrancis knows how to open people’s hearts. #PopeInDC #GoodIsWinning pic.twitter.com/IgYPF33M0C
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 24, 2015
#8-10. 3 giggly girls I stopped these young ladies after the Pope Francis parade in DC hoping to interview 1 of them. They instead each wanted to give a short reason.
3 girls who were giggly about just seeing @Pontifex for the 1st time @ the #PopeInDC parade yesterday. #GoodIsWinning pic.twitter.com/hLfKGdCdWa — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 25, 2015
#11. A priest from Juniper Serra’s hometown
As we were getting vested for the Mass of SAINT Juniper Serra’s canonization, I see this priest confused about seating with obviously broken English so I try to translate. It turns out he grew up on the same street as Juniper Serra.
This priest was born on the same street as Juniper Serra. #PopeInDC #PopeInUSA (non-native English speaker) pic.twitter.com/V6iIUM6x3M
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 23, 2015
#12. “Servant Leadership” You can tell this young man is smart as just spontaneously, he starts talking about how Francis teaches “servant leadership” without thinking about it.
Patrick from @NDMinistry loves Francis b/c he stresses servant leadership. #PopeInPhilly #GoodIsWinning @AleteiaEN pic.twitter.com/bFWF9hqk8X — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 27, 2015
#13. A Re-vert
This woman is returning to the Church because of how personal Francis is.
This woman left the Catholic Church & now returns because Francis seems to bring a personal element. #GoodIsWinning pic.twitter.com/7I57KLO4i0
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 24, 2015
#14. I even got 3 bishops And Bishop Coyne gave the best response. I actually got all 3 in the media filing room where I was waiting for Francis to arrive to the US.
Now we can hear what @Pontifex really says not just what the media says. A message from @bishopcoyne on #PopeInDC pic.twitter.com/TpG8njVOd0 — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 22, 2015
#15. The cutest kid
I took a few videos of kids. None were as cute in their responses as this girl. If you like cute, watch the video.
This girl is cute saying how much she loves @Pontifex. #PopeInUSA #PopeInDC #GoodIsWinning @popeishope pic.twitter.com/ZCM8YTtRBX
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 23, 2015
#16. A mom who sees continuity and newness This woman was attending Mass in Philly with her family and explained how he both was new and kept continuity.
Francis is reaching out while staying true to the Church. #PopeInPhilly #GoodIsWinning @popeishope @AleteiaEN pic.twitter.com/n22nWeAN8u — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 27, 2015
#17-20. These 4 nuns were all happy and spontaneously elected a spokesnun.
4 sisters are excited Pope Francis came to visit us. #PopeInDC #PopeInUSA #GoodIsWinning @popeishope pic.twitter.com/PrGeJnslVB
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 23, 2015
#21. We never see this in Philly This man was impressed by how much Francis had improved attitudes in his hometown, Philly.
Pope Francis has brought a loving atmosphere to Philadelphia. #PopeInPhilly #GoodIsWinning @popeishope @AleteiaEN pic.twitter.com/QlNM4BGVsA — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 27, 2015
#22. Common Catholic Girl
This university student has an amazing spirit on Twitter – keeping it Catholic and funny. Since her account is Anon, I did the interview Anon.
I got @comcatholicgrl to share why she’s excited about #PopeInPhilly. #GoodIsWinning @popeishope (sorry, low volume) pic.twitter.com/7WmYMhK9Me
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 27, 2015
#23. This simple priest While waiting for the Juniper Serra Canonization, I was walking around asking priests and this priest gave the most concise and faith-filled answer why he was excited about Pope Francis’s visit. (I’m thinking we should almost make this a pro-Catholic meme.)
This priest has a simple but deep reason why he loves @Pontifex. Only 6-seconds. #PopeInDC #GoodIsWinning @popeishope pic.twitter.com/E7V8CVV2Jk — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 24, 2015
#24. The optimist
I got to the Juniper Serra canonization early and the lines were LONG. That didn’t get this girl’s excitement down.
We have a long wait to get into the #PopeInDC Mass & this girl is keeping a positive attitude. #GoodIsWinning pic.twitter.com/i4JicA1HXo
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 23, 2015
#25. “I want to hear the truth from Pope Francis” This sister is with a community from Spain and of the 3 sisters there, they elected her simply because the rest of them didn’t speak good English. Yet she gives a great reflection on how the Pope shows us the truth.
This sister wants to hear the truth from Pope Francis. #PopeInDC #GoodIsWinning @popeishope pic.twitter.com/WFr07XagIf — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 23, 2015
#26. The Pope AND the Popemobile
100% boy! He wants to see the Popemobile almost as much as the Pope.
This is 100ŕ BOY! This guy is almost as excited to see @the_popemobile as @Pontifex. #PopeInDC pic.twitter.com/rmmRLUJ7LX
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 24, 2015
#27. A Southern Baptist Papist Yes that seems like an oxymoron but this young Baptist woman was excited by Francis.
Even non-Catholics like @SeeBethTravel (Baptist) are excited about Pope Francis. #PopeInDC #GoodIsWinning @popeishope pic.twitter.com/9wyWwlbmFR — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 23, 2015
#28. Evangelization Needed
This woman thinks Francis is re-igniting evangelization.
#PopeFrancis is helping the Church get excited about evangelization. #PopeInDC #PopeInUSA pic.twitter.com/kdUkcUoi3W
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 23, 2015
#29. The Kind Young Man This Boy loves Francis’s charity and got up early to see him.
.@Pontifex‘s charity attracts this young follower on the #PopeInDC parade route. pic.twitter.com/mEDy8dtVm9 — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 23, 2015
#30. The attentive woman
After the Pope’s Mass, I ran into this lady and asked her what she thought of the Pope’s Mass. She felt like in heaven from the Pope and the music.
During the Pope’s Mass, I felt like I was in heaven. #PopeInPhilly #GoodIsWinning @popeishope @AleteiaEN pic.twitter.com/BXU0GebwNj
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 27, 2015
#31. A Korean Religious Brother I ran into this young religious brother from my community (Legionaries of Christ) as we recognized each other. He is preparing to go back to Korea for a year of mandatory military service & came to be the World Meeting of Families with a group to strengthen himself for that.
This religious brother with @RegnumChristiEn is all the way from Korea. #PopeInPhilly #GoodIsWinning @popeishope pic.twitter.com/lDFm4FRlSM — Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 27, 2015
There were many more. On Twitter I think I posted 100 videos. These just stood out. I think now we have the opportunity to thank Francis for his visit.
excellent. I’m looking forward to a long sit down to watch these.
Nice photography.Thank you. It sure will be shared to the world.
Make sure you share it and encourage your friends to too.