A WIRRAL student who played Mary Magdalene in a school play overcame stage fright for an audience with the Pope.
Ellie Smith, 14, a student at St John Plessington Catholic College, Bebington, used previous public performances to get over any jitters as she addressed His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on behalf of UK Catholic schools.
Ellie welcomed the Pope to St Mary’s College, Twickenham, on Friday as the world’s media watched on.
His Holiness was marking, before a 4,000-strong audience, the contribution Catholic schools make.
Ellie, who was given the honour as her school won the TES School of the Year, said: “It was a big privilege and he was smiling.”
