I met Pope Francis. Not once, not twice…but three times.  We took a selfie, cheered on my school’s football team, and hung out at my campus ministry.

The best #selfies are with Pope Francis.

Pope Francis has been my role model ever since he became the Pope.  ATTENTION ALL CATHOLICS: If you do not yet have a role model, here is one for you! Pope Francis is the perfect role model for not only Catholics, but all people.  He is taking the role of Pope to a whole new level.  Here are just a few of the unbelievably awesome things he has said:

1. “Holiness doesn’t mean doing extraordinary things, but doing ordinary things with love and faith.”
2. “Dear young people, the Church expects great things of you and your generosity. Don’t be afraid to aim high.”
3. “Are you angry with someone? Pray for that person. That is what Christian love is.”

These are just a few of the most wonderful things Pope Francis has said! Being a college student can be one of the most tempting times of your life.  Arming yourself with the words of Pope Francis is a great way to keep up your faith.  Follow him on Twitter @Pontifex.  His tweets can serve as reminders to you to live out your faith every day. 

Just hanging with the Pope. #nbd

Following Pope Francis will not only give you great insight, but will also help you to live out your call to holiness.  As Catholics, we all have a call to holiness.  Sometimes that seems as if it is impossible.  I look around me and I wonder how I can be holy compared to all these other people.  God is calling us to be just as holy as Pope Francis. Woah. Is that even possible? The answer is yes! We all have the same calling to holiness. 

There have been so many times when I have strayed. What I have learned is that straying away from holiness is human nature.  If it was easy to be holy, everyone would do it! The difficulty when reminds us that it will all be worth it in the end.

#Fans.

As young people, we have been told before that we are the future of the church.  Pope Francis turns it around and says we ARE the church.  Pope Francis holds young people in a special place in his heart.  This is something that has motivated me to pursue my call to holiness.  He tweeted, “Dear young people, Christ is counting on you to be his friends and witnesses to his infinite love.”  As this witness of Christ,

Pope Francis goes the extra mile to be on the same level as young people rather than separated from us.  Just like us, he enjoys sports and takes selfies. 

What amazes me most is Pope Francis’s unconditional love for people from all different backgrounds, regardless of their beliefs.  Pope Francis is a face of God for all of us to see.