By Alexi CohanSTAFF WRITER
If you couldn’t make it to see the pope in person last week, you could have watched his speeches with other members of the Hofstra community, as part of a viewing party event held Thursday and Friday at The Cultural Center Theater.
The Interfaith Office along with other on-campus organizations like the Catholic Campus Ministry sponsored daylong viewing parties to give others the opportunity to watch Pope Francis as he delivered messages about peace and the power of prayer.
Whether viewers were attending the viewings for class or general interest, students enjoyed the calm and peaceful environment as they snacked on light refreshments and engaged in question-and-answer sessions.
With 15 students in attendance on Thursday and 19 in attendance on Friday, the turnout wasn’t huge, however Chyva Clarke, our campus minister, explained that students who did show up “commented very positively on the pope’s words. Many stated that this was their favorite pope.”
The speeches were projected on a large screen as students bustled in and out according to class and work schedules. Clarke, along with Catholic Chaplain Greg Rannazzisi felt that organizing these viewing parties was important for the Hofstra community.
“It is rare that such a prominent and inspiring figure is basically in our backyard. The pope’s teachings inspire our youth and help build them for tomorrow,” Clarke said.
Students seemed to agree with this sense of importance, inquisitively asking during the question-and-answer sessions about the pope’s background, the formalities of his visit and his modest method of transport.
Emily Natale, a senior religion and biology major, suggested that the religion you practice need not hinder you from watching the pope speak. “Catholic or not, the pope’s presence and what he represents is important,” she said. Natale along with Nia Adams, a senior history and religion major, attended the viewings for their independent religion study that will focus on Catholicism on campus.
The people that did attend these viewing parties were happy to be able to reflect on the historical significance Pope Francis has already.
“He is such an influential figure who is bringing a lot of important issues to light,” said Natale.