Posted October 14, 2022

Archbishop Nelson Pérez recently led a delegation of 13 pilgrims from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) on a trip to Rome to meet Pope Francis. He was joined by Marisally Santiago, Director of the Office for Ministry with Youth of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Sam Gorman, a student at Bishop Shanahan High School. Archbishop Pérez is the Episcopal Advisor for NFCYM.

(Related: Archbishop, Bishop Shanahan HS student meet with Pope Francis)

The National Youth Advisory Council was granted a meeting with the Holy Father on October 12, 2022, at the conclusion of the general audience in Rome to receive directly from him the papal message for young people in the United States. These young people will formally share our Holy Father’s message at the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in November in Long Beach, CA.

The archbishop celebrated Mass at the Tomb of St. Peter, followed by a message of hope and joy from Pope Francis, interviews, and a first for the archbishop: a papal selfie.

(Photos courtesy of Archbishop Nelson Pérez)

  • Following an Oct. 12 papal audience with the youth delegates, Archbishop Nelson Pérez took what he called his “first papal selfie.” (Archbishop Nelson Pérez)

  • Archbishop Nelson Pérez (right) joined Bishop Shanahan High School junior Sam Gorman (left) and Marisally Santiago, director of the archdiocesan Office for Ministry with Youth, for a pilgrimage to Rome sponsored by the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry Oct. 9-16. (Archbishop Nelson Pérez)