Our students on this week’s Italy trip got far more than they expected yesterday – they were right there in Vatican City when white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney, announcing the election of a new pope. It was a powerful moment that few people ever get to experience in person, and our students witnessed it first-hand.
We’d spent Thursday exploring the sights of Rome, and were just getting ready to leave the Vatican when the crowd suddenly grew quiet… then erupted with cheers. The white smoke had appeared, and everyone knew what it meant.
The students describe their reactions
Logan Nandra said, “The atmosphere completely changed when the white smoke came – it was electric and people started cheering. I can’t describe how it made me feel – it was amazing!”
Oliver Parry said, “It made me feel delighted to be there. As we were leaving, there was a stampede of people running towards the Vatican – it made me realise just how important it was.”
Lola Sleigh added, “Despite not being religious, it was a great thing to be able to experience, and I’ll definitely mention it in future stories to my family and friends.”
Mr Aaron Kay, Assistant Headteacher, said:
“I still can’t believe we were there at the exact moment it happened. For our students to be part of something so globally significant – it’s something they’ll never forget. They’d been asking questions about the conclave earlier in the day, and then to see the outcome live – it became a real moment of cultural connection.”
The group of 20 Year 9 students is in Italy on a week-long international study placement, funded by the Turing Scheme – a programme designed to broaden cultural understanding and improve access to life-changing opportunities. Hosted by Istituto Dante Alighieri Omnicomprensivo in Nocera Umbra, our students have been immersed in Italian school life, joining in with robotics, sport, languages and virtual reality workshops alongside their peers. They’ve also explored historic cities like Perugia, Assisi and Rome, and taken part in local activities including cooking classes and guided tours. Check out more photographs on Facebook.
Thanks to Turing Scheme funding, this trip was open to students who may not have had many opportunities to travel abroad – for several, this was their first trip overseas. And now, thanks to incredible timing, it’s turned into a once-in-a-lifetime experience none of us will forget.