Pope receives Scholas flag that flew at the North Pole

They came to Rome from the peripheries of the planet, after they accomplished their mission to spread the Pope's message on the care of the environment to the Arctic.

SANTIAGO TITO

Expeditioner

"The expedition was very hard. There were 10 days with temperatures of minus 77-86° Fahrenheit and others with minus 90-104° Fahrenheit. So it practically was all ice. But hey, after 10 days of long walks in the Arctic, above the sea, we reached our goal of arriving in the geographic North Pole."

They walked through some the most inhospitable places, places that have hardly ever been touched by man. ;

Scholas Ocurrentes and the Criteria Foundation undertook this adventure with nine expeditioners who were all able to reach the North Pole. Thus, they brought the proof of his achievement to the Vatican. The flag that flew amongst ice less than a month ago is now in the hands of the Pope.

Pope Francis was aware of this journey and wanted to show his support in a very special way.

SANTIAGO TITO

Expeditioner

"The Pope sent us a thank letter for the efforts we are taking for the care of our common home and it arrived three days before we reached the North Pole. He gave us more strength to continue and it heated the spirit inside us, instead of only feeling the cold."

It is a place they traveled and walked through to raise awareness about the deterioration of the planet, one of the main concerns for Pope Francis.

SANTIAGO TITO

Expeditioner

"To return the visit and thank him for his great gesture that had ultimately helped us bring the message of climate change to the world, especially with Laudato si'."

With this gesture they wanted to show that climate change is not a game and that its consequences are a problem for all who live on the great planet Earth.

AC/MB

MG

-VM

-PR

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