Salisbury pupils chosen to see the Pope

Three Wiltshire pupils will join 4,000 others seeing the Pope in Twickenham

Three pupils from a school in Laverstock have been selected to see the Pope for a special address for young people in Twickenham.

Mateusz Dabrosz, Thomas Lawes and Maria-Claire Houston, from St Joseph's School in Laverstock, all had to write essays explaining why they should be allowed to attend.

Thomas Law, a year 11 pupil, said: "I'm a devoted catholic and I think that it is just so important to see my church leader.

"It's one of the things that makes this so special is the fact that the only other time he's been here was in 1982 and that's a good 30 years."

This is going to stay in the school's history for a long time. We're the three people who went to see the Pope. Mateusz Dabrosz

Nearly 4,000 young people are expected to attend the Big Assembly at St Mary's College in Twickenham on the second day of the Pope's visit.

For Year Nine student, Mateusz Dabrosz, it is not the prospect of seeing the Pope in the flesh that is the most daunting.

"I'm so excited and a bit scared about the big crowd of people," said Mateusz, "but I feel very happy and privileged that I got chosen.

"This is going to stay in the school's history for a long time. We're the three people who went to see the Pope."

Another Year Nine student, selected to make the trip, is 13-year-old Maria-Claire Houston who is aware of the controversy surrounding the Papal visit:

"I don't really see it as a big problem, the Pope coming," said Maria.

"I know it's dangerous for him to come but isn't it dangerous for him to go anywhere because there's going to be someone with a different opinion.

"I think everyone should have the freedom to believe what they want and I don't see any problem in that."