When Nick Gross arrived at the Vatican on what would become a fateful January day, he and his classmates found a line of several hundred people already wrapped around St. Peter’s Basilica.
This isn’t happening, the Marquette University sophomore thought to himself.
“I was happy to see that the Catholic faith was alive,” he said, “but we knew our chances of getting near Pope Leo were slim.”
Four hours earlier, smothered by darkness while sleeping inside a Jesuit residence, the group of 15 students obeyed their alarm clocks and hustled to Vatican Square.
They shared a common bond: serving as Knights of Columbus on campus — a group Gross described as “a bunch of guys interested in growing their faith, a real brotherhood.”
Their 5,000 mile pilgrimage to honor the Holy year had begun several days earlier.
Together, the young men teamed with the Sisters of Charity — St. Teresa of Calcutta’s religious order — interacting with homeless men in Rome.
“That was a profound experience,” Gross said.
In a time when many worry about the future of faith among young adults, moments like this tell a different story.
They learned how to pray the rosary in Italian. They met with Cardinal James Harvey for a tour at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and walked through the Holy Doors on the eve of their closure for the next quarter-century. They had not planned to attend the Pope’s general audience – a tough last-minute ticket to say the least – but they were elated when they were invited to attend 48 hours in advance.
For this group of devout Catholics, it was the stuff of dreams.
A faithful foundation
Making the transition from high school to college can pose a significant challenge to a young person’s faith life.
“All of a sudden, you are on your own and you make your own decisions,” Gross said.
He pointed to his parents, Michelle and Jim — both Marquette alumni — for helping to build his faith foundation.
“Our Catholic faith has been the guiding force in our family as we raised both of our sons,” Michelle Gross said. “We are incredibly proud of Nick and the way he has chosen to live his life.”
“He is unapologetically Catholic and on fire for his faith, which we believe has already inspired, and will continue to inspire, other Marquette students to feel comfortable expressing their beliefs and growing in their faith journeys while in college.”
“Without them, I don’t know where I’d be,” Nick said. “Growing up, we never missed Mass.”
The New Berlin, Wisconsin, family remains active at Holy Apostles Parish. On campus, Nick points to Rev. Michael Maher, S.J., and his fellow Knights for helping him to continue to grow.
“I’ve found a very vibrant Catholic faith community at Marquette,” Gross says. “I’m surrounded by people who like to live out their faith in various ways, from Bible study and service projects to weekly dinners and participation in Ignite.”
The fateful handshake
The fateful handshake that now lives as a framed photo inside Nick’s dorm room nearly never happened. “It took an act of God,” Gross said.
“We were supposed to be outside in the area where the Popemobile comes through Vatican Square. But a torrential downpour moved everyone inside.”
Before they knew it, the knights found themselves standing in a center aisle as the Pope approached. “This is happening,” they said to each other.
They draped a Marquette University flag over a gate, which drew Pope Leo’s attention. He approached, shook hands and said two words that continue to resonate.
“Go Marquette.”
Then he moved onward through the sea of people.
“It was absolute shock and disbelief,” Nick said. I grew up a cradle Catholic learning as a textbook Christian. This experience made it real. I could see the Vicar of Christ — the successor of St. Peter — face to face. It was tangible and real.”
Hours later, the students scrolled through hundreds of photos on the Vatican’s official website. And, there it was. The iconic shot that will forever commemorate their faithful encounter: a simple handshake frozen in time.
“We were on a faith high,” Gross said, while being interviewed inside Zilber Hall. “Before we left, I remember thinking, I don’t want to leave all that we encountered in Rome.”
“The call to be a Christian is to bring the joy of the Gospel to all people,” he added. “Our hope is to bring that joy back home to Milwaukee and Marquette University.”
