Pope Francis’ visit to New York is historic and his unique style is creating excitement, especially with young people across our area. While some are hoping for just a glimpse of the Pope, one local man personally knows that coming face to face with the Pope can be a life-changing experience. NBC 4 New York’s Marc Santia reports.
As thousands of Catholics across the tri-state get ready for Pope Francis’ historic visit to Manhattan later this month, a Westchester biology teacher is looking back on his own personal relationship with an earlier pontiff.
Stefano Cascapera, a teacher at St. Augustine School in Ossing, served as an altar boy for Pope John Paul II when he was a boy growing up in Rome. He told NBC 4 New York that the experience has him looking back to his childhood memories in the church as much as later this month, when Francis will visit New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Cascapera said that he still remembers the day he was chosen to serve as an altar boy for Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It was his 10th birthday, and he called home from junior high school to share the exciting news.
"I was just so excited I remember calling home and saying, 'Mom! Mom! Mom! You can't imagine what happened to me today!,'" he told NBC 4 New York. "She said, 'What happened?', and I said, 'For my birthday they sent me to serve the Mass to John Paul II.'"
Cascapera later went on to meet John Paul II several more times. The late pope even blessed his marriage.
My wife and I both said the same thing," he said "'Oh my gosh this man is amazing.' He's amazing. It was an incredible experience."
And now that Francis is coming to America, he's hoping that kids across the tri-state get to have an experience similar to his.
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"It changes your life, definitely," he said.
