St. Catherine freshman Natalie Nation knits a headband, which she hopes to get blessed by the pope. Nation originally planned to bring a candle to be blessed but could not, due to security restrictions. (Grace Pastoor/TommieMedia)
Nation displays a necklace she brought to be blessed. She purchased the necklace specifically for the Philadelphia pilgrimage. (Grace Pastoor/TommieMedia)
St. Catherine junior Alud Arriola shows off just a few of the items her mother sent with her to be blessed. Arriola brought three rosaries, three prayer cards and two medallions to receive blessings for her mother. (Grace Pastoor/TommieMedia)
St. Thomas junior Sophie Carson chose to bring her medallion because of its meaning to her. Carson received the medallion as a gift from her mother for her first communion and hopes to have it blessed by the pope. (Grace Pastoor/TommieMedia)
Sam Kelly, a campus minister for social justice at St. Catherine, brought four rosaries to be blessed. Kelly said each rosary has a different meaning, and having them blessed will make them a little more special. (Grace Pastoor/TommieMedia)
St. Thomas student Robert Klemm brought a rosary made of juniper berries to be blessed. The rosary was a Christmas gift from Klemm’s mother. (Grace Pastoor/TommieMedia)
When Pope Francis celebrates Mass Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia he is expected to give a blanket blessing of items attendees have brought with them. St. Thomas and St. Catherine students arrived at the site of the Mass with a wide variety of items to be blessed.