Hats off to Joseph Day ’15
Joseph Day ’15, from Rehoboth, Massachusetts, who studied in the Providence College in Rome program during the fall 2013 semester, handed a zucchetto, or white skull cap, to Pope Francis during the pope’s weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square in September.
Inside was a note reading “Providence College loves Papa Francesco,” signed with the names of PC students. The pope read the note, said “Providence College,” put the cap on his head, closed his eyes, said a prayer, and gave the cap back to Day.
The zucchetto exchange is a papal tradition.
“Words cannot describe what it was like to be so close to the successor of St. Peter, to touch his hand, to have him speak to me, to have him take and wear that zucchetto for a moment before returning it as a gift, blessed for us,” said Day. “My hands didn’t stop shaking for joy!”
Zuchetto exchange with Pope Francis
Editor’s Note: Joseph Day ’15 was the co-valedictorian of the Class of 2015. He entered the Dominican Order of Preachers and was ordained on May 21, 2022. Now Rev. Damian Day, O.P. ’15, he serves as an assistant chaplain at Providence College.
