RICHMOND, Va. – A chaplain and veteran from Central Virginia are meeting Pope Francis during the pontiff’s historic visit to Washington, D.C.
Military veteran Mike McCord said Father James Connolly at McGuire Veteran's Hospital is such a great guy that he knew he had to help him meet Pope Francis. So he wrote three letters: one to the White House, one to the pope and one to the archbishop.
Last month Father Connolly received a phone call and was invited to help President Obama welcome the pontiff. However, Connolly said he would only attend on one condition.
“I said, ‘Well, if Michael McCord can come with me, I am most definatelt interested,” he said. “And then I called Michael and said, ‘How would you like to meet the pope and the president?’ He goes, 'I have chills. My goosebumps have goosebumps.'”
Mike McCord said he is not even catholic, but thought Father Connolly needed to be rewarded for his dedication.
"That's why I did it, he deserved it and this is a thankless job for him. I don't think I've ever been to this hospital... he's [always] there,” McCord explained.
