LETTERS TO ROME

Children describe perfect pope

Students in grades 5-8 at Holy Cross School in Albany had a lot of suggestions about the qualities Pope Benedict XVI should possess, including confidence, wisdom and a sense of humor.

They offered their recommendations in "letters" to the cardinals who chose the pontiff. The essays were written before the election of the new pontiff.

The exercise was the idea of their English teacher, Janice Smircich, who asked them to tell the cardinals "the qualities and characteristics they should look for in choosing a pope."

Here is a sampling of the traits the children wanted the new pope to have:

FIFTH GRADERS

* Tia Fiorino: "forgiving, social and honest."

* Laura O'Connor: "He should love children."

* Jillian Callanan: "someone who is always going to be friendly and caring."

* David O'Connor: "He must be a good leader who takes responsibility for his actions."

* Emma Kipniss: "He should be fun-loving and humorous."

* Melissa O'Connell: "He must be holy!"

* Timothy Norris: "He should always bless people, take communion every day and worship God all the time."

* Samuel Stenard: "a humble, holy, forgiving man."

* Sara Penna: "He must be smart enough to make good choices."

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SIXTH GRADERS

* Griffin Zeh: "He should be faithful to the rules and regulations of the Church."

* Rory Engel: "Everyone wants a cheerful pope."

* Bryan Carr: "He should set a good example."

* Brittany Stinson: "He should know what's going on in the world."

* John Kiernozek: "He should take examples from Pope John Paul II."

* Alexis Russell: "He should be open to all new ideas."

* Ryan Hoin: "He should be prayerful."

* Zachary Cook: "We need a wise, knowledgeable man who is filled with the Holy Spirit."

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SEVENTH GRADERS

* Teresa Crasto: "He must be a good public speaker because how he expresses himself will represent the Church."

* Amanda Miller: "loving, caring, kind and very nice."

* Alli Dillenbeck: "He has to be very devoted to God and the Catholic Church."

* Alexa Dillenbeck: "honest, trustworthy, young, middle-class and kind."

* Robert Mariani: "He needs to know how to speak all the tongues in the world so everyone would know what he is saying."

* Gregory Bishop: "He shouldn't be shy or nervous to speak out to millions of people."

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EIGHTH GRADERS

* Emily Smith: "pious, confident, humble, wise, healthy."

* Erin O'Connor: "confident to make important decisions about matters of the Church."

* Ali O'Connor: "He should listen to the needs of others."

(4/28/05)