Coach Harbaugh,

Before I begin I want to again thank you, and the whole ops staff, for arranging this trip
to Rome for us. The trip will undoubtedly be a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of
us, and being able to experience the Vatican will be an honor. I am sure, or at least I
would hope, that every guy on the team will be writing you to ask for the opportunity to
meet the Pope, so I will be brief explaining why I would value the experience.

First, while not a Catholic, as a Christian I hold the Pope in the highest esteem,
regarding him as a holiest mortal man. Growing up attending Sunday School, I have
heard many times about the greatness and the mercy of our Lord; however this idea
didnt become truly real to me until I hurt my knee. My injury and my time in the
hospital really taught me to appreciate Gods love and mercy, as without his mercy and
strength I would have lost my leg and maybe even my life. Because of this, I feel like I
owe it to God to take every opportunity I get to honor, thank, and praise him; and to me,
the Pope is the closest mortal being to God, so by shaking the Popes hand and by
telling him thank you, I feel that I could truly show God how appreciative I am of him.

Second, while it would be an honor to meet any Bishop or Cardinal, and certainly to
meet any Pope; I feel that Pope Francis is truly extraordinary, as I believe he is
successfully transitioning the Church into the 21st Century and the Modern World. I say
this because Pope Francis has taken a different (when compared with his
predecessors), and sometimes controversial, stance on issues such as a womans role
in the Church, LGBT rights, and the Environment and Climate Change. Because of his
positions and beliefs on these issues, I believe that Pope Francis will be remembered
as a historic Pope who not only made the Church more inclusive, but also more
modern.

Thank you for your consideration,

Grant Newsome