‘Dear Pope, Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, I Can’t Wait to See You’--Jennifer O’Neill, fourth grader, St. Gregory the Great School

Preparations for the Pope’s visit to Southern California have reached to the fourth-grade level. In a class project at St. Gregory the Great School in Whittier, students used their pencils and crayons to draw pictures they hope will be presented to the Pope when he arrives in Los Angeles.

The children also wrote letters to the Pope in their fourth-grade style. “How are you? I’m fine. Welcome to L.A. I’m one of the Girl Scouts you’ll see,” wrote Anne Elizabeth Knoble.

Heidi Paramore asked the Pope: “Where do you live? I live in Whittier, CA, on Busby Dr. I hope you will have as much fun as I will.”

In the photo at left, Selena Perez, 9, works on her personalized picture for the Pontiff. Her letter was more serious:

“Dear Holy Father, . . . I am looking forward to your visit. I would like you to pray for my family. My mom just got in an accident last month and the doctor said she would be having back problems all her life. Please pray for her. Love, Selena Angeline Perez.”