SCRANTON -- Students from the University of Scranton gathered to watch the pope's address to congress Thursday morning. The university is a Jesuit school and Pope Francis is the first Jesuit pope.
About 100 University of Scranton students filed into a lecture hall and waited quietly but it wasn't for class.
"I actually missed class to be here!"
University officials put the pope up on the big screen as he addressed a joint meeting of congress in Washington, D.C.
This crowd watching in Scranton supports what many people believe: that Pope Francis is a "modern pope" who has caught the attention of young people.
Mary Ellen Kane live-tweeted her favorite moments.
"Definitely his call for promoting dignity for everybody and really being a voice for people who are the most vulnerable in society," said Kane, a university junior.
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Professor Michael Allison planned to bring the speech to his political science class later in the day.
"Several of them are here this morning and we'll talk about the pope's address to us today, (what it means) for us at the University of Scranton, a Jesuit Catholic institution."
Pope Francis is the first Jesuit pope, a point of pride for the University of Scranton.
"I think it's really exciting to have," said junior Kaitlyn Davis. "We're Jesuit educated. We're both in a class right now where we're learning about Jesuit ideals and spirituality. So I think it's really exciting to see a Jesuit pope come and speak to our congress about Jesuit ideals and how they can be implemented here in America."
Students say they plan to follow the pope's visit online, even some in person. A small group will be traveling to see him in Philadelphia this weekend.
"I've never gotten to listen to him speak. I've read about him a lot and seen what he has to say, but I really wanted to see what he had to say in person and get to watch him speak because he's a really powerful speaker," said junior Jordan McCauley.
