UPDATE: After theft, students pony up for Pope replacement

10354735_10152607225149685_8430087661303041455_nDays after a beloved cardboard cutout of Pope Francis was stolen from the McGinley Center lobby — and it became clear the culprit would not come forward — students rallied to pay for a new one.

The replacement arrived on campus Monday afternoon.

And with that, Rose Hill took a deep breath.

“HE IS BACK- rather, he is a new one- a gift from friends of our ministry,” Fr. Phil Florio, S.J. wrote in a Facebook posting, noting that the first cutout remains absent.

Do-gooders running the Fordham Compliments Facebook page asked followers to raise $60 so that Campus Ministry could purchase a replacement cutout. Enough money was raised by six people in one hour, according to the donation website.

While many on campus have vocalized support for the fundraising effort, others have challenged its necessity.