Don’t lose hope

The U.S. welcomed Pope Francis last week. People came from all walks of life to see him. Pope Francis began his six-day trip in Washington, D.C., last Tuesday, greeted by President Obama, Vice President Biden and their families. He rode in a parade, gave a speech to the UN General Assembly, held a multi-religious ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and met with the 9/11 victims’ families. He became the first Pope to address Congress when he gave a speech to the Senate and House of Representatives, then he ate lunch with the homeless, displaying his humbleness. He also held a Mass at Madison Square Garden, visited the Independence Mall in Philadelphia, met with Bishops and visited a prison. He held a prayer and Mass every day.

My favorite Pope moment came before his trip. It was when David Muir and ABC News had a special where the Pope, from the Vatican City, addressed three cities as a virtual audience. Which city did he address first? Chicago, then Los Angeles and Dallas. There’s something about Chicago that’s special and it’s not just our sports teams and deep dish pizza. The Pope spoke with a young girl, asking her to sing a song. She hesitated at first but once she started singing, she touched a lot of people. The Pope’s message to her was to be courageous. He told the youth to never lose hope.

So my message to you is just that, don’t lose hope. The world has a bright future and it starts with us.

Matthew Maggit is a sophomore in accounting in the College of Business Administration. Matthew decided to come to UIC because of the business program’s reputation and because he wanted to study at a campus with a diverse atmosphere. He likes how close the campus is to downtown Chicago and the Willis Tower. In his free time, he loves to surround myself with loved ones, and he enjoys sports and going to the gym.