ROME (Kyodo) -- Pope Francis gave an audience Wednesday to a delegation of four Japanese junior high school students from Nagasaki Prefecture, in a reenactment of a historical mission to Europe in the 16th century.

The four students from Minamishimabara attended the event wearing "kamishimo," or ceremonial garb traditionally worn by samurai. They were simulating the "Tensho mission" involving the first Japanese envoys sent to meet the pope in Rome.

Four Japanese boys were part of the group dispatched in 1582 by Christian warlords to seek support in spreading Christianity in Japan. They returned in 1590.

The prefecture in southwestern Japan has been sending delegations to reenact the mission since 2012, but the visits were canceled in the previous four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The students met with Pope Francis, who welcomed them with a smile when they said they were from Japan.

"I was able to feel the weight of what the Tensho mission accomplished. I would like to make use of this experience for my future," said 15-year-old student Yuno Mizota.