TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -
Tucson Catholic schools are using the selection of a new pope as a teaching opportunity.
At Santa Cruz Catholic School T.J. Gomez' 8th grade religion class is learning that hundreds of years of tradition still have a place in this modern age.
"It depends, like the situation, but I think that it could probably be a little bit modernized. At the same time it's pretty good that they keep the tradition that they have," says Elisa Castro.
Diego Sparkman marvels that it has been more than 600 years since a pope has retired, requiring the College of Cardinals to select a new one.
"I think it's actually pretty cool like to be alive during the time of getting a new pope--like hasn't been done for 600 years. And like knowing like the history that they have set rules for what happens," Diego says.
Anthony Carino thinks there are better ways than smoke to reveal that a new pope has been chosen.
Black smoke means the cardinals voted, but did not choose a pope.
White smoke means they have chosen a new pope.
"You can't really see the smoke come up. It'd be better like yeah -- I would understand using Facebook or Twitter to say we have a new pope or we don't have a pope, but like I understand they don't want to use it in some ways," he says.
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