Purdue students witness a piece of history

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Twenty-five Purdue students returned home from Rome late Saturday night after witnessing history.

Heather Smith and Kristen Clark are part of the Agricultural Study Group at Purdue University.

Members of the group stood in the Vatican as Pope Francis was introduced.

They said they were hoping to be in Italy when a new Pope was elected, but never imagined it would happen on their first day in Rome.

They said they were among thousands of people in the square scrunched together shoulder to shoulder.

"We're just out there playing with one of the nun's dogs," said Clark. "Then all of the nuns start running out banging pots and pans, yelling, 'Nueva popa, nueva popa."

"There were so many people," said Smith. "I don't even know where to start on the count. People from all over the world were there and it was just amazing because it didn't matter where you were from because the Pope is the Pope."

Both girls shot dozens of photos but said perhaps their coolest souvenir is the Italian newspaper from the day after.