BRIGHTWATERS, N.Y. — Harrison Voorhees thought that if he saw Pope Leo XIV during his family’s vacation in crowded Rome, the new pontiff would only be a “speck in the distance.” 

Turns out, Harrison, 17, of Brightwaters on Long Island, made eye contact with Pope Leo on Aug. 6, as the “popemobile” rolled into St. Peter’s Square for the weekly general audience. But the encounter didn’t stop there for Harrison, a senior at Chaminade High School in Mineola. 

Stuck for words, the only thing he could think to say was the name of his school. 

“So,” Harrison said, “I was yelling that out — ‘Chaminade! I’m from Chaminade, Long Island! I’m from Long Island!’ ” 

The teen was rolling video footage on his cellphone camera as Pope Leo touched his ear in a gesture to get the teen to repeat himself. 

Harrison Voorhees of Brightwaters on Long Island (foreground in photo) had a “life-changing” exchange with Pope Leo XIV on Aug. 6, in St. Peter’s Square. The new pontiff gave him a thumbs up and appeared to offer a quick blessing for the people of Long Island, Harrison said. (Photos: Courtesy of Harrison Voorhees)

Harrison complied. 

“And then he gave me a thumbs up and nod of approval,” Harrison said. “After he does that, he says to himself, ‘Long Island,’ out loud. And then he makes a sign of the cross, like he’s blessing the people of Long Island. 

“That was insane.” 

Pope Leo XIV gives a thumbs up at Voorhees’ mention of Long Island.

Harrison said he didn’t realize the pope said “Long Island” until hours later, when he was rewatching the video with the audio amplified. 

“And that was an insane moment,” he added, “because I had kind of a conversation with the new pope, who’s from America, and it’s the year of the Jubilee!” 

Harrison noted, however, that it was a coincidence that his family was in Rome during the Jubilee. His parents and grandparents started planning the trip — Harrison’s early graduation present — last fall.  

He didn’t even know about the Jubilee until friends at school talked about it. 

Still, the family kept their plans despite knowing that Rome might be unusually crowded.  

Included on the trip were Harrison’s parents, Tom and Frances Voorhees, his younger brother, Jones (a junior at Chaminade), and his grandparents, Jose and Amy Mosquera. 

They arrived Aug. 5, just as the Jubilee of Youth concluded. 

RELATED: Pilgrims From the Diocese of Brooklyn Attend Jubilee of Youth With Bishop Robert Brennan

A guided tour of Rome was part of their travel package, but they had free time early on Aug. 6. They contemplated touring the Coliseum or taking in the General Assembly. They quickly chose trying to see the pope even though a tour guide said he’d probably only be a “little speck in the distance,” Harrison said. 

When they reached the square, Harrison found a spot near the stage and climbed atop a chair to get a better view of the pope as he passed.  

He said the perch made him seem about 8 feet tall, considering he is 6-foot-2. 

“I also kind of have a loud voice,” Harrison said. “I wasn’t trying to be obnoxious. I just took an opportunity to try to have an interaction with him. 

“It was really a life-changing moment that I will always remember.” 

Harrison Voorhees (left) and his brother, Jones (right) — shown here in Rome — attend Chaminade High School, a Marianist college preparatory institution for boys in Mineola. They commute there for nearly an hour from their home in Brightwaters on Long Island, first by train to a stop about a mile from the school. They walk the rest of the way, but Harrison says it is worth it. He credited the school for nurturing his Catholic faith.