BOSTON — Two Boston College students studying in Rome had an up-close encounter with Pope Francis and came away with a treasured souvenir.

Katie Rich of Minnetonka and Ethan Mack of Portland, Maine, were along the barricade for an audience with Pope Francis on Wednesday when they held out a white zucchetto — or skullcap — they had purchased the day before as his vehicle passed.

Inside was a note that read “Boston College loves our Jesuit Pope!”

The pope had his driver stop and a guard took the skullcap from the juniors at the Jesuit university.

Mack said Pope Francis checked the skullcap for size, nodded and smiled at them, then put it on. He handed the zucchetto he had been wearing to the guard, who gave it to Rich and Mack.