BRUNSWICK — St. John’s Catholic School had a special visitor Monday — Bishop Robert P. Deeley.

The bishop was treated to a warm welcome that featured a special concert by the school’s band. He also stopped by each classroom in the school, located on 37 Pleasant St. in Brunswick, enjoying songs and fielding a range of questions from the enthusiastic children.

The students were amazed to learn that bishop has met four popes, including a recent conversation with Pope Francis at the Vatican in September.

“Pope Francis is a very nice man, but he wants to know how you are doing when I talk to him,” said the bishop.

One young girl expressed concern that “priests get too hot because they always have to wear black.”

“That’s very kind of you,” responded Bishop Deeley. “It’s black because black is the absence of other colors so the priest isn’t distracted in doing what he is supposed to do, which is lead people to God.

“In the tropics, the priests wear white because black attracts heat,” he added. “That’s the nice thing about living in Maine, the priests don’t have to worry about that.”

Several students asked the bishop about what inspired him to become a priest.

“When I was your age, I got to know the priests in my parish and saw that they did good things,” said the bishop. “I liked what they did. They were bringing people closer to Jesus and asking them to take care of each other. So I thought about it and prayed about it and I thought that was something I could do.”

Bishop Deeley explained that his job is to coordinate things in the diocese to enable priests to care for all of the people in Maine. He asked the children to consider helping in that mission one day.

“Some of you young men can think about whether you want to be a priest,” Bishop Deeley said. “Some of you young women can think about whether you want to be a sister.”