A historic event was held Wednesday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception as Pope Francis canonized Junipero Serra, a Franciscan missionary who was made the first Catholic saint on US soul.
Thousands of people attended to experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“It’s pretty incredible that it’s here I this campus, and I was born and raised catholic, so being able to be in the same place as my father is awesome,” said Ellen Wright, a student at Catholic University.
Richmonders Meg McManus and her husband Chris won tickets to the event through the Richmond diocese.
“It’s so exciting,” Meg McManus said. “There’s just so much energy surrounding it. There’s so many people here and we’re all united. I think it’s beautiful.”
And while the memories will last a lifetime, thousands picked up more tangible reminders of this day in the form of souvenirs.
“When I was a kid I had batman and a bat mobile so I just had to get the pope in his pope mobile,” Erik Lopez of California said.
8News reporter Kristin Smith will have highlights from this historic day, as well as reaction from those who were a part of it, tonight on 8News at 11.
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