Here and there, we’ve been hearing indications of an uptick in vocations. Now comes word that one of the most influential seminaries in Rome is welcoming its biggest class in more than a generation:

The Pontifical North American College welcomed its largest incoming class in 40 years Aug. 28 when 61 seminarians arrived.

While classes at the pontifical universities in Rome do not begin until mid-October, the new students at the seminary sponsored by the U.S. bishops arrived early for orientation, intensive Italian classes and a retreat.

But first, they sang for the pope.

Given a place of honor in the courtyard of the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo Aug. 31, they serenaded the pope in Latin after joining in the noontime recitation of the Angelus.

Msgr. Robert Gruss, vice rector for student life, said that when the new men are joined by the second-, third- and fourth-year students by mid-September, the college will have a booming community of 208 seminarians.

The college building on the Janiculum Hill overlooking the Vatican opened in 1954 with room for more than 200 students, but in recent years some of the student rooms had been put to different uses.

“Those rooms have been reclaimed,” Msgr. Gruss said.