TWO Tameside primary schools have each received a set of Rosary beads blessed by Pope Leo XIV.
They were personally presented by Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner.
The former Deputy Prime Minister visited St Christopher’s RC Primary in Ashton-under-Lyne and St Stephen’s RC Primary in Droylsden to hand over the religious items.
She received them while attending the Pope’s inauguration at the Vatican in the Italian capital of Rome earlier this year.
“It was such a privilege to attend the inauguration earlier this year and I was honoured to have the Rosary beads blessed by his Holiness,” said Ms Rayner.
“These are memories that I will treasure forever and I am so glad that I could hand over such precious items to two of my local schools.”
Rosary beads are a string of beads used to count prayers, most commonly in the Catholic faith but also in other religions.