When Bethlehem High School students met Pope Leo XIV during the Jan. 14 papal audience at the Vatican, they carried with them a legacy that began in Bardstown more than 200 years ago with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.
Founded in 1819 by the Sisters, Bethlehem grew from their early ministry of Catholic education in Nelson County. Sisters taught and served at the school for generations, shaping its academic life and spiritual foundation. That connection remains central to the school’s identity today.
In January, a small group of students, families, and Learning Coordinator and Counselor Dr. Nathalie Corbett (pictured above) traveled to France and Italy. During the audience, students presented Pope Leo XIV with a spiritual bouquet, a bottle of Faithfully Crafted Bourbon from Log Still in New Haven, and a letter signed by Archbishop Shelton Fabre explaining the spirit of the gifts.
They wore Bethlehem pilgrimage travel sweatshirts during the trip and presented one to the Holy Father. The sweatshirts were sponsored through the Green Dot program, supported locally by CommonSpirit Health and Flaget Memorial Hospital. Green Dot promotes respect, safety, and active bystander awareness. By sharing the sweatshirt, which featured the quote “Love your Neighbor as Yourself” Mark 12:31, students highlighted their commitment to building a safe community, a value long reflected in the Sisters’ ministry and the school’s Catholic tradition.
Senior Kate Lancaster (pictured above) said the moment felt overwhelming to her and that Pope Leo XIV was very gracious and very grateful for our gifts. Junior Haydon Carney (pictured above) said no amount of waiting could have prepared him for the amazement of the moment.
Students also attended the full papal audience, hearing Scripture proclaimed in multiple languages. They visited the Sistine Chapel, Notre Dame Cathedral, following its renovation, and other historic sites they had studied in class.
For Dr. Corbett, the pilgrimage brought together faith, history, and community. Meeting Pope Leo XIV offered students a chance to experience the global Church while representing their school. More than two centuries after the Sisters opened their first school in Bardstown, Bethlehem students continue to carry that mission from Kentucky to Rome.