Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States for the first time since being elected to the papacy in 2004 last week.
The pope's talks during his visit focused on immigration, Catholic education and the Church's sexual abuse scandal. His universal message of hope resonated among Catholics nationwide, and even among Notre Dame students.
Junior Susan Bigelow said she was touched by the fact that the pope took the time to meet with so many people throughout his visit.
"His willingness to meet with diverse groups of people - sexual abuse victims, immigrants and teachers - has really shown how diverse we are," she said. "It was an affirmation that the American Catholic Church is a place of wonderful diversity."
Bigelow said that she was impressed by the way Benedict addressed the issue of immigration during his visit.
"Just the fact that he was in New York and didn't skirt the issue said a lot," Bigelow said. "We should be protecting immigrants rights and their families and I think it was really important that he addressed that."
Bigelow said the pope's trip to the United States showed his "softer side" to the public, despite the fact that he is usually characterized as more austere in comparison to his late predecessor Pope John Paul II.
"I grew up with John Paul II, who is so charismatic, and I had always seen Benedict as more reserved. I think that ever since he's been pope he's been showing his softer side," she said. "It's cool that America was really able to encounter the compassionate side of the pope."
She said this was most evident in his willingness to meet with the victims of the Church's sexual abuse scandal, which was something she had not expected during his weeklong trip.
"This was the first time victims of the sexual abuse scandals had been met by a pope," Bigelow said. "This shed a lot of light on the pope as a leader who genuinely desires reconciliation with this painful past."
The fact that the pope spoke in support of immigrants' rights and sexual abuse victims in America was great because he was able to bring that unifying message to a country that needs a lot of unity, Bigelow said.
Sophomore Colleen Moran also said that she also was surprised that Pope Benedict was willing to meet with sexual abuse victims.
"I wasn't expecting the comments on the sexual abuse scandal because he neglected before to comment on it, but it was one of most pressing issues for the Church and I was pleased to see he did comment on it," she said.
Additionally, Moran said that the pope's visit was a unique opportunity for Americans to gain a better understanding of the pope and his ministry.
"Since Rome is on the European continent, it can seem like the hierarchy of Church is rather distant to the American people, having the pope come to us makes it feel much more like a personal relationship," Moran said.
Moran said she thought the Pope's address to the United Nations General Assembly last Friday was particularly pertinent.
"The pope's address to the UN was an important reminder of Church's stance on the high value of human life, and that normative national sovereignty should not take precedence over the protection of human life and dignity," Moran said.
She said she was also impressed by the pope's efforts to reach out the people of other faiths.
"His visit to a synagogue in New York was important because it showed that the Church is committed to working with other faiths," she said.
The pope's visit to a synagogue in New York was the first time a pope had ever visited a Jewish house of worship in the United States.
Junior Jack Kiley said the theme of the pope's visit, "Christ our Hope," resonated throughout the Benedict's time in the country.
"The main thing that stood out to me aside from the theme of 'Christ our Hope' - the message of hope and renewal for Church in America - was his address to the youth in New York," Kiley said. "It really resonated with me when he said, 'Take courage.'"
Kiley said the pope's message of hope was crucial for the American Catholic Church.
"There has been a lot of talk about losing vocations, so it was important for Benedict to come with the theme 'Christ Our Hope,' and say that if we put our hope in Christ, Christ will take care of the Church in America," he said.
Kiley also said the week's events helped him better understand the pope as leader of the Church.
"I think before he came to America a lot of people wondered about who he was," Kiley said. "When he came here he showed that he's an incredibly holy and intelligent man who has deep faith and deep compassion and cares about his Church-that surprised me and I really liked that."
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