Kids write to the pope

A Catholic Digest Papal Visit Exclusive

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In anticipation of his visit to New York and Washington, D.C., Catholic Digest invited young students in grades 1 through 5 to write letters to Pope Benedict XVI. We featured selections from the letters we received in our April issue on the pope’s visit. The following are selections from that feature as well as some of the additional letters we received, from St. Andrew Apostle School in Silver Springs, Maryland and from St. Aloysius School and St. Aloysius Education Clinic in New York.

Dear Pope:
My name is James and I’m 8 years old. My favorite subject is math. Pope, how is it in the Church? How is your life? Is it hard being a pope? Is your life easy? Well I love to play sports and other activities. What is it about being Catholic? Why do we dress nicely? We have to behave. We have to do everything. Why do we have to do all these things? My parish school is exciting and fun. And it’s sometimes not fun.

Many blessings,
James

Dear Pope,
My name is Kaela and I am 9. My favorite subject in class is reading. I enjoy learning how to write in third grade. I’m tall. I’m very smart. I dress very well. I’m nice. I don’t talk a lot. I have long hair.

Sincerely,
Kaela

Dear Pope Benedict,
Hello, my name is Jailene and I am 10 years old. I go to St. Aloysius School, it is in Central Harlem. It is a very nice place to learn. The teachers are very nice. Our church is very big and beautiful. Our priest is good and the Masses he does are fun and cheerful. I love to sing!!!

It is an honor to know that you are coming to America. Welcome!

Sincerely,
Jailene

Dear Pope Benedict XVI,
I have one question to ask you that is does your hat make your head itchy?

Sincerely,
Brianna

Dear Pope Benedict,
My name is Joel. I am 8 years old. I like to play video games. I got 5 questions for you. How long have you been a pope? Is it hard being a pope? Do you think it’s cool how when somebody is not elected black smoke comes out and when somebody is, white smoke comes out? How many places have you been to? What did you have to do to become a pope?

Sincerely,
Joel

Your Holiness,
I am a fourth-grader from St. Andrew the Apostle in Silver Spring, Maryland. I would like to tell you something about how I feel about being Catholic. It is fun going to Mass but it is hard to find the hymnals in the hymn book.

Respectfully,
Nathan

Dear Pope Benedict,
My name is Gabrielle and I am in third grade. I would like to know do you like being the pope? It sounds like a lot of fun. I sometimes wish one day I could be president of the U.S.A. I pretend it all the time. I heard that when you vote you are locked up in the church.

What is being the pope like? Is it a lot of work? Do you always have to work work work? Do you ever get any fun?

Sincerely,
Gabrielle

Your Holiness,
I am a fourth-grader at St. Andrew the Apostle in Silver Spring, Maryland. It is a wonderful place where there are nice people and teachers. Is Italy a wonderful place? I’ve never been there. I’d like to know more about it so I can enjoy it with you.

Respectfully,
Cathryanna

Dear Pope Benedict,
How does it feel to be the pope? Do you feel pressured? What do you do in your free time? Are you always busy? Thank you for all you have done!

Sincerely,
Zoli

Dear Pope Benedict,
Please pray for my great grandma because she is getting old.

Sebastian

Dear Pope Benedict,
I am 6 years old. How many miles is it to come from where you live to where we live? What is your real name? How long have you been a Benedict? Can you please write back?

Love,
Gabriella

Your Holiness,
I think being a Catholic is very fun. I get to go to church, go on walks, and pray. When we are at school in the morning we pray and before lunch we pray. When we go home we even pray. When we get home from school we do our homework and play with our toys. Then when it is dinner we say grace and then we eat. So that is what I think of being a Catholic.

Sincerely,
Keegan

Dear Pope Benedict,
You are a very good boss. It is so cool that you are coming to America!

Love,
Joey

Your Holiness,
I would like to tell you something about how I feel about being Catholic. I feel like if I am sad or mad then I always have someone to turn to and that’s what always gets me through the day.

Respectfully,
Mary Kate

Dear Pope Benedict XVI,
I think it’s great that you are coming to America because you can show others the right way to live. You can show others that peace is the way to go and not war and when people know you’re in town, they’ll stop making trouble. Thanks for being such a great pope and showing the way to go.

Sincerely,
Lexi

Your Holiness,
For me, being Catholic is one of the most exciting things, because when you follow God’s law and trust in him, amazing things happen. As a Catholic, anything is possible. Your Holiness, thank you for being an influence on me and the world.

Sincerely,
Peter

Dear Pope Benedict,
Hi, my name is Brendan. We are so excited for you to come to America. How is your life as a pope? Do you like your job? I am a very talented boy and some people think so, too. Our school is very fun and awesome. I think I should be a Catholic, because we need to believe in God.

Sincerely,
Brendan

Your Holiness,
The feelings I have about you coming to America are off the scale.

Sincerely,
Gary

Dear Pope Benedict,
What was life like before you were pope? That is all that is on my mind. Maybe you can write me back and tell me what is on your mind.

Sincerely,
Elan

Dear Pope Benedict,
Thank you for coming. Welcome. I have some questions to ask you. Is this your first time coming to New York? Do you like being a pope? Are popes cool? I hope so!

From,
Tahnaya

Dear Pope Benedict,
I have so much to ask you. What kind of person are you? I would like to meet and talk with you about myself and my grades. I would like you to know I was baptized when I was a baby.

From,
Ashai

Dear Pope,
My name is Dijon and I am 8. My favorite subject is math. I enjoy learning Spanish. I try to accomplish spelling, reading, music, and everything in school. My mom told me if I go to college I will be smart.

Sincerely,
Dijon

Dear Pope Benedict,
My name is Tobi. I like to dance, jump rope, tap, and sing. I have three sisters and one brother. You never get peace in my house! My favorite hobby is tennis. My least favorite hobby is football. You get tackled too much! Well, I hope you have enjoyed talking to me.

Sincerely,
Tobi

Dear Pope Benedict,
Is it fun being a pope in Italy? Is this your first time coming to New York? Are you married? Do you have kids? What kind of food do they have in Italy? I like to ask a lot of questions. So much that I drive my mother crazy. I like snow. Do you?

Sincerely,
Myles

Dear Pope Benedict XVI,
I am very happy you are coming to the U.S.A. I wish I could see you. How did you become the boss of churches? How special is your ring? How big is the Vatican? I saw you kissing a baby in my religion book! What does XVI stand for?

Love,
Sarah

Dear Pope Benedict,
When I grow up I want to be just like you.

David