The Pope made a surprise visit to UNI while he was in America from Tuesday, Sept. 22, to Sunday, Sept. 27. Pope Francis is only the third Pope to set foot on United States soil. And (surprise!) he was right here on the University of Northern Iowa campus on Tuesday! (I bet you didn’t even know!) While we were showing him around the UNI campus, we discussed what the Pope supports.
- The Pope’s all about health and well-being. Yes, the Pope is all about having a healthy and active lifestyle.
- The Pope’s all about education. Even though Schindler was closed for renovations, the importance of education is still dear to the Pope because education leads us to action and advocacy.
- The Pope’s all about foreign affairs. It was awesome being able to meet with Captain America in Rod Library to discuss foreign affairs. The Pope brought to the table the issue of solidarity of the poor and vulnerable in America and abroad.
- (I also really loved seeing Captain America because he's my favorite superhero. Look at my expression, though, I'm so happy.)
- The Pope’s all about voting. In Maucker Union, there was a voter registration booth set up. Voting helps shape public policy and promote the common good.
- The Pope’s all about nature (that's pretty neat!). The Pope's recent encyclical (papal letter) "Laudato Sí" urges us to take care of God's creation -- the environment (which includes people as part of the environment).
- The Pope’s all about ecumenical activities. WE SEE YOU CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS and we want to hang out with you!
- The Pope’s all about charity. He was very excited to see the work being done at the blood drive, though he couldn't donate. He was also diggin' the call to recycle by the sign behind us. Charity is important because it meets people's immediate needs.
- The Pope's all about Panther Nation. Shout-out to the awesome folks at the Alumni House for letting the Pope take a picture with TC. Though TC was busy, he was happy to show his panther pride with his "I heart UNI" sign for the pontiff.
After awhile, the Pope needed a break and he got to hang out in one of the nifty Adirondack chairs that are all over campus. 
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He also really loved the Campanile. Actually, he just really loved the UNI campus.
If you’d ever like to visit the Pope or take a selfie with him, feel free to visit St. Stephen, the Witness Catholic Student Center.
