South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke had an audience with Pope Francis last Wednesday. He was one of the organization's five state presidents meeting with the Pope following a week long series of meetings with Vatican officials in advance of an international symposium scheduled in Milan in June on faith, food and the environment.
Only two other members of the group were allowed close enough to shake hands and greet the Pope, but Sombke says it was still a moving experience to be near him at St. Peter's Square a few days before Holy Week.
Doug Sombke joined Dakota Midday and discussed the meeting with Pope Francis and Vatican officials and June's "Faith, Food and the Environment" symposium led by the International Catholic Rural Association.