Seeing Pope Benedict XVI, singing in a crowd of thousands and hearing a message of hope added up to an uplifting experience, five local college students said Sunday.
``He talked a lot about having courage, having faith to overcome things,'' said Amy Yencharis, 21, a senior at Hartwick College in Oneonta.
She, Erin Johnston, Cindy Sabonis and Kathryn LaForest drove together to the Albany area Friday night, stayed in a hotel and rose at 5 a.m. Saturday to board a bus bound for Saint Joseph Seminary in Yonkers.
After arriving at about 10 a.m., they spent the day waiting for the pope to attend a rally with seminarians and youths from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
``It really was a great opportunity that we were able to go,'' said Johnston, 22, a Hartwick College senior.
Alex Wilson, another student from Oneonta, attended the rally with a separate group and also was in Yankee Stadium for the Mass on Sunday. The pope's visit will strengthen Christianity and Catholicism in the United States, Wilson said, and though the crowds treated Benedict like a rock star, he maintained an aura of humility and gave a ``great sermon.''
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``It was awe-inspiring,'' said Wilson, 21, a junior at the State University College at Oneonta.
Organizers said about 25,000 people were expected at the rally Saturday. Several students said they ``toughed it out'' without food because the lines were hours long. The sunny weather made it hot, and one student ``borrowed'' some sunscreen from a police officer. Singers, including a priest who performed rap music, appeared throughout the day.
``Everyone was really excited when the pope came out,'' Yencharis said. ``He had this big smile on his face the entire time. ... All of it was really special.''
The crowd sang ``City of God'' and ``America, the Beautiful'' and chanted the ``Lord's Prayer.'' The crowd also sang ``Happy Birthday'' to the pontiff.
``It was really cool,'' Sabonis , 19, a freshman at SUCO, said. The pope identified well with everyone, she added.
``To hear someone that important tell you things will be OK is nice,'' Sabonis said. ``It was a very uplifting experience.'' Johnston, who had attended World Youth Rallies in 2003 and 2005, said she appreciated being close enough to the stage Saturday to see the pope's facial expressions.
Audience members were screaming when Benedict appeared, she said, and the level of energy was great.
``I found it really touching,'' Johnston said. ``He spoke a lot about having hope.''
Kathryn LaForest, 18, a freshman at Hartwick College, said Sunday that it was a little hard to believe she had seen the pope the day before.
``It was almost surreal,'' she said. She went to the Vatican last year on a trip with high school seniors but hadn't seen the pope, which she said was ``a really neat opportunity.'' The audience Saturday was ``hooting and hollering'' when the pope appeared, she said.
``It's important for him to speak to the youth because we're the next generation,'' LaForest said. His visit will get people more involved and excited about their faith, she said.
``I'm very lucky to have had this opportunity,'' LaForest said, ``a once in a lifetime experience.''
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