WILKES-BARRE -- Thousands of people from northeastern and central Pennsylvania are watching all the excitement surrounding the visit of Pope Francis, knowing they'll be part of it soon.
That includes groups of college students from the Catholic colleges in Luzerne County, among the many going to see the pope in Philadelphia this weekend.
When a group of 40 or so students at King's College in Wilkes-Barre saw the news coverage of the pope surrounded by crowds in Washington D.C., it all became real that they, too, will be in the company of Pope Francis soon.
"For me, going down to Philadelphia to see the Holy Father is going to be quite surreal," said King's freshman John Flynn.
We talked with two of the King's students making the trip, along with a priest from campus ministry. He was overwhelmed as soon as he saw the pope land in the U.S.
"That was when the reality of how beautiful and historic a moment this actually is kind of hit me," said Fr. Chase Pepper. "I was little emotional and I don't get emotional easily."
The pope is a 78-year-old man, but the college students say they feel a connection.
"He seems to understand the young people in ways not a lot of people do, especially at his age. I've read a lot of what he's said and he just gets it," said King's sophomore Julia Stopper.
Misericordia University in Luzerne County also has a group of students going to see the pope. College Students could just sleep in this weekend and watch the pope on TV, but those going say there's just something about being there.
"The atmosphere, the whole entire experience of being there, being able to be older and say I was there when the pope came to the United States of America," said Misericordia junior Andrea Molitoris.
The students know in a crowd of hundreds of thousands, they'll be far from the pope, but they want to be part of the moment.
"It's bringing the whole entire country together which is something unique right now that we really need," said Misericordia junior Alivia Womelsdorf.
Pope Francis is drawing 20-somethings more than even a rock star could.
"This is not a rock concert, but it's definitely just as exciting to people like us at Misericordia," said senior Tori Dziedziak. "We get really excited to go out and support what we believe in, so I think it's a great opportunity for all of us."
The college students know there may be a lot of walking and standing to get to see the pope this weekend in Philadelphia but tell us it's all worth it.
The full schedule for Pope Francis' visit is posted here.