TWO charitable pupils from a local school have been given the once in a lifetime opportunity to spend time with the Pope when he visits the UK this week.

St Columba’s College students Ciaran Naughton and Declan Weed, both 17, will join a group of other young Catholics travelling to London tomorrow (Friday) for a meeting with Pope Benedict before attending his Hyde Park prayer vigil on Saturday.

The Year 12 pupils were chosen to represent the school’s Young CAFOD (Catholic Overseas Development Agency) group which has raised more than �26,000 for the charity in the last 18 months through ongoing fundraising efforts including discos and charity car washes.

Most of the money raised by the school has gone towards the development of a community called Favelas in Brazil.

Ciaran, from Radlett, and Declan, from Hemel Hempstead, were selected for the honour of meeting the Pope after being key leaders of the school’s CAFOD group last year, during which time they organised fundraising events and spoke with various corporations to tell them about the charity’s work and gather pledges.

A spokesperson for CAFOD said: “All have been chosen as examples of young Catholics who are putting their faith into action by raising awareness of global issues, praying and campaigning for justice and raising money for CAFOD’s work overseas.”