DICKSON CITY, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Since 1997, Frank Klassner has been a professor of science at Villanova University. Just a few years later, he became involved in an internship program with the Vatican City.

“We’ve done virtual reality projects for them, scanning objects, making 3D models, creating 360 panoramas to put on their virtual tours,” he said.

Periodically, Klassner would fly to the Vatican City to check in on the students, and work on projects with those in the Vatican, although he never expected what would happen on his most recent trip.

“There were 19 of us, four faculty members, advisors, including myself and 14 students,” he explained.

Through personal invitation, the group entered into a room for a private meeting with Pope Leo XIV.

“I introduced myself. I’m an old-fashioned Catholic boy, so I kissed the ring,” said Klassner.

And Klassner didn’t come empty handed.

“There’s a tradition that if you meet with the Pope and you present him with a zucchetto, he’ll trade zucchettos with you,” said Klassner.

The zucchetto is the skullcap worn by the Pope. Klassner was able to find Pope Leo’s personal zucchetto supplier to ensure the perfect fit.

Along with the trade, he asked one more favor of His Holiness.

“I said it would really mean a lot if I could bring back a token from you to our parish. He saif of course. He said it was such a nice idea and he’s grateful they did this work, and he signed it,” said Klassner.

Klassner had the Pope sign a neckerchief from the troop, a symbol created for the near century old troop in the 1960s.

“The body and blood of Christ. Over that are the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and around the host is a ray design, a sunburst with 21 rays, for Troop 21,” said Klassner.

During the pandemic, St. Mary’s Church, home of Boy Scout Troop 21, played a pivotal role in Klassner’s work with the Vatican- providing servers for remote work, when personal home servers were restricted.

Now, the church plays a pivotal role in scouting history.

“I didn’t think it was the actual Pope. I know he does stuff with the Vatican, but it still is just unexpected. It’s not every day you see something like that,” said Life Rank Scout Aiden Mannis.

Klassner described jaws dropping as he revealed the signed neckerchief and zucchetto to the boys during a troop meeting.

“The scouts were posing next to the box and taking pictures with it and of itThe scouts knew exactly who the pope was, they understood the significance of this,” he said.

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