President Jonathan J. Sanford, Ph.D. | University of Dallas website

Over the past five decades, students from the University of Dallas Rome program have witnessed five papal conclaves while studying in Italy. These events, occurring during the fall of 1978 and spring semesters of 2005, 2013, and 2025, provided students with firsthand experiences of major moments in Catholic Church history.

In 1978, UDallas students arrived in Rome shortly after the death of Pope Paul VI. Cheryl (Frost) Dorenbush, BA ’81, recalled that even non-Catholic students joined their classmates in St. Peter’s Square for the election and installation of John Paul I. Six weeks later, they witnessed a second conclave following John Paul I’s unexpected death and the subsequent election of John Paul II.

“I remember the feeling of being in the square, and you could just feel the people’s hope. It was palpable,” Dorenbush said. “Their hope was palpable, and their devotion and their faith. It was a very wonderful experience to have.”

Dorenbush also described her encounters with determined nuns making their way through crowds with umbrellas: “I remembered being very polite to them because I admired their devotion and their faith and their vocation … but I really didn’t admire their umbrellas,” she said with a laugh.

At Pope John Paul II’s installation mass, UDallas students positioned themselves near one of Bernini’s fountains for a better view. Dorenbush reflected on how Bernini’s columns seemed to embrace those gathered: “The whole experience was really enhanced by the literal arms of the Church, Bernini’s columns... If you stand in the right way in that plaza... letting everyone in... but if you take a few steps... they close up, and you’re being held in the arms of the Church.”

This sense of community influenced Dorenbush personally; upon returning to campus she began exploring RCIA and joined the Catholic Church a year later.

In spring 2005, as Pope John Paul II's health declined, UDallas students again found themselves at St. Peter's Square during significant events. Dr. Greg Roper recalled chaplain Fr. Mark Byrne suggesting they go to St. Peter's as crowds gathered to pray: “Let’s just go down.” Roper noted his wife compared it more to waiting for a birth than mourning a death.

Eric Lewis remembered hearing thunder over Due Santi campus on the night John Paul II died: “I think that the pope just died.” Anne (Johnson) Judge traveled to Krakow during this period; after confirming news about JPII from Fox News correspondent Amy Kellogg, she returned to Rome for his lying-in-state and witnessed Benedict XVI's election.

Roper recounted being ushered out early from Vatican Museums during Benedict XVI's swift election: no one expected such a quick decision given John Paul II's long tenure.

Observers noted then-Cardinal Ratzinger’s homily on relativism played a unifying role among cardinals leading up to his selection as pope.

In 2013, when Benedict XVI resigned—the first voluntary papal resignation in centuries—students felt loss during sede vacante (the period without a pope). Sarah Sokora described camping out at St. Peter’s Square with friends: “it’s not just that you don’t have a pope... there’s actually no bishop.” When white smoke finally appeared signaling Pope Francis’ election, language barriers dissolved as seminarians led thousands singing Salve Regina together.

“I’ve never felt more powerfully the universal nature of the Church... than I did in that moment,” Sokora said.

During spring 2025 semester, news broke early about Pope Francis’ illness before most students had attended an audience with him. His passing occurred soon after Easter; some students extended travel plans so they could be present for another conclave. Caroline Anderson ’27 recounted gathering with peers at St. Peter’s Square when white smoke signaled another new pontiff:

“It was so beautiful to see how everyone’s joy was about the fact that we have a new pope... The Holy Spirit has chosen who this pope is...” Anderson said.

Students learned soon after that this newly elected pope was American—a development Beatrice Ellison ’27 called inspiring for Catholics in America: “It’s really inspiring, really motivating for Americans that our pope is one of us.”

Afterward, students celebrated at an American restaurant nearby.