YORK lecturer Gaye Ortiz met Pope John Paul II at a private audience in the Vatican.

Gaye, who is head of cultural studies and senior lecturer in theology and religious studies at York St John College, was attending the world assembly of SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication. While there, she was elected to the first board of SIGNIS officers as vice-president.

Updated: 10:46 Thursday, December 20, 2001