On the day before he joined the College of Cardinals, Cardinal-designate Edwin F. O’Brien took time to Skype with elementary and high school students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Essex.

 

The cardinal-designate, in Rome for the consistory, used an iPad to communicate with students in Maryland. They watched a screen in one of Mount Carmel’s high school classrooms and asked questions about the Rome weather, how he feels about leaving the archdiocese, his favorite memories and what it means to become a prince of the church.

 

“This doesn’t happen very often,” said third-grader Ethan Fabyan of asking the archbishop a question. “Sometimes, you just get lucky. I thought he was very nice and kind, that he would be a great bishop and cardinal. I hope he has a good time in Rome.”

 

Students from Immaculate Conception in Towson were able to skype with their pastor, Father Joseph Barr, who was also in Rome for the consistory.