[Verona-Cedar Grove Times] The pope may have already left the United States, but in his visit he left a lasting impression on Verona and Cedar Grove residents.
Local religious schools and congregations used the appearance of Pope Francis in America as a chance to both learn and to come together.
The younger members of the community were not the only ones to feel excitement about the pope. The Rev. Jerry A. Racioppi of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Verona led a candlelight vigil to commemorate Pope Francis Sept. 24.
About a dozen people attended the ceremony, which Racioppi said was a wonderful experience.
"I think everyone had listened to something on the media [about the pope] and it just really connected us regardless of congregation," he said. "It energized [us] to care for the world."
Racioppi said he also found it interesting that the pope was vocal about his views on environmentalism. Pope Francis made climate change a focal point of his papacy, according to a northjersey.com report.
"Accepting the urgency, it seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation," the pope stated, according to the report.
