Harlem schools prepare for Francis

A group of nine and 10-year-olds from four Catholic schools in Harlem, New York City, could scarcely contain their excitement about being chosen to meet Pope Francis when he visits Our Lady Queen of Angels school next month.

“I almost jumped out the window,” said Maziya Clemente, a fourth grader at St Ann School on East 110th Street about her reaction when she heard that she was among eight students selected to meet Pope Francis in person, according to a report on local television.

Our Lady Queen of Angels and the other selected schools serve a largely minority population of African-Americans and Latinos. Many of the students are not Catholic. Pope Francis will visit the school on 25 September, the same day he addresses the United Nations General Assembly and participates in an inter-faith prayer service at the memorial to the victims of the terrorist assault of 11 September 2001.