NewsChannel 8 Script:
Anchor Introduction:
IF YOU HAD FIVE MINUTES WITH POPE BENEDICT HIMSELF, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? THAT'S THE QUESTION ONE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY SENIOR IS ASKING HIMSELF AFTER FINDING OUT THAT HE'D WON THAT OPPORTUNITY.
OUR JACKIE CONGEDO CAUGHT UP WITH HIM RIGHT AFTER HE FOUND OUT.
Story:
"I'm still really overwhelmed, like my heart hasn't stopped pounding," said senior Peter Osgood.
FOR CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY STUDENT PETER OSGOOD, MEETING THE POPE IS NO LONGER JUST A DREAM.
"To have the opportunity to meet him, just seemed like one of those opportunities you'd never have again, so I just toyed with the idea of entering the contest," said Osgood.
IT WAS A CONTEST HE DIDN'T THINK HE COULD WIN. WRITE 500 WORDS ABOUT THE MEANING OF A CATHLOLIC EDUCATION. AND AS A BIOLOGY MAJOR AT A SCHOOL WHERE MANY STUDY THEOLOGY, HE DIDN'T THINK HE HAD A PRAYER.
"I didn't really know how I would fair because I kind of felt like there are so many people, here so many students that would love this opportunity and I felt like there would be so many better essays out there."
BUT OUT OF 128 ENTRIES, PETER'S STOOD OUT, WINNING HIM A PERSONAL MEETING WITH POPE BENEDICT NEXT WEEK WHEN HE VISITS CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
"Reading these things, I was sitting there in tears at some points the stories as they were written," said Rev. David O'Connell, the President of Catholic University.
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT VERY REVEREND DAVID O'CONNELL WAS TASKED WITH PICKING THE FINAL FIVE, AND THEN THE TOP ESSAY OF THEM ALL.
"The integrity that went through it and it was just very well written so the whole package was just very beautiful and well done," said Rev. O'Connell.
"I REMEMBER HOW EACH SCHOOL DAY BEGAN IN PRAYER..."
PETER'S ESSAY CAPTURED HIS JOURNERY THROUGH CATHOLIC EDUCATION... STARTING IN HIS ELEMENTARY YEARS.
"My dad always called our elementary school the best-kept secret that we had in our region, and I think that's absolutely amazing. While we have this wealth of faith and learning right here and in one case it's kept hidden, but in another case it spreads so much through the people it touches," said Osgood.
PETER HOPES TO CONTINUE LIVING HIS FAITH THROUGH MEDICINE AS A FUTURE PHYSICIAN. BUT HE'LL NEED GUIDANCE IN THE LONG JOURNEY AHEAD, AND WHAT BETTER PERSON TO ASK FOR THAT, THAN THE POPE HIMSELF.
"How do I live a Christian lifestyle and be a Minister through this new profession? I'd ask for his prayers," said Osgood.
IN NORTHEAST D.C., JACKIE CONGEDO, NC8.
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