Marquette University students watch Papal visit from school's "Pope Zone"

MILWAUKEE -- Marquette University made watching Pope Francis' arrival to the White House a community affair on Wednesday, September 23rd. In fact, the school set up "The Pope Zone."

"I just think, like we only get this opportunity probably once in our lifetimes and we can't go there so I think it's cool that they brought it to us here," said Haley Buckingham, a junior at Marquette.

In "The Pope Zone" there was food, a cut-out of the pontiff for selfies and of course, a big screen streaming live coverage.

Father Steven Avella says each priest brings something different and Pope Francis seems to stir up things in people.

"At least ten people have come up to me telling me that they have been out of the church for a long time and have come back because of what they've heard from Pope Francis," said Fr. Avella.

Ellery Fry saw Pope Francis at Vatican City in his window while studying abroad. But this is different.

"Well, I actually got to see him in Rome while I studied abroad. I think it's really neat to see him here and speaking in English and on our soil just to kinda bring it all back to America, bring it back to us," said Fry.

Pope Zone at Marquette University

FOX6 News caught up with Marquette President Michael Lovell after returning from the White House ceremony -- loaded with souvenirs and still awestruck by the pope.

"Words can't describe the experience that we had. The crowds, the energy, the excitement. How beloved this man is in our country. It's like nothing I've ever seen before with the pope," said Lovell.

Many of the people FOX6 News spoke with at Marquette say besides really liking what Pope Francis promotes, they are especially proud that he is a Jesuit Pope -- because Marquette is a Jesuit school.