Pope Francis, who became the first South American and Jesuit in the most powerful position in the Catholic Church, made a historic visit to the US in September 2015, traveling to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.
After the 88-year-old pontiff’s death on Monday, April 21, four New Yorkers recall the heartfelt moments when they came face to face with the pontiff here in the city — and how their lives were changed forever.
Julia Bruzzese, Bath Beach, Brooklyn
“When I met Pope Francis, I was 12 years old. It was a very dark time for me and my family. I had been a very healthy, active young girl, playing sports and dancing. But when I was 9, I had a tick bite. Two years after that, I started feeling numbness in my legs. Then I couldn’t walk. I was paralyzed from Lyme disease. I was in shock and so helpless.
There were moments when I was asking God, ‘Why?’ It tested my faith.
We weren’t getting a lot of medical help, and I couldn’t go back to school [at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy in Dyker Heights]. But my principal said the Holy Father was coming into town and he would try to get me tickets to meet him. The tickets were very hard to get. When we did, I knew it was God showing me a sign.
We were on the tarmac at JFK. It was very hot that day and we were waiting for two hours. They told us the pope wasn’t going to come over to anyone because he was running late.
Yet he came right to my family and me. I was in shock. I was hysterically crying. He gave me the blessing — he put his hand over my head and he didn’t say a word. I was in shock. It was a magical moment. A once in a lifetime moment. And it happened at a time in my life when I really needed it.
That little moment changed the course of my life. People saw me on the news and so many reached out. People from my community started raising money and I was able to get treatment. Meeting the pope helped lead me to doctors.
I do still use a wheelchair, but there’s been a lot of progress over the years. I’m doing so much better today than I was when I met the pope.”
Monica Iken-Murphy, Upper East Side
“Faith will sustain you. After I lost my husband Michael Iken in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on World Trade Center, I was suicidal. I was drinking and driving. I couldn’t eat. I look back at some of that stuff and I know God was with me.
A few years later, I became a board member of the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and we decided to invite the pope during his 2015 visit.
When I saw Pope Francis, I was in awe. I brought my girls from my second marriage — Megan, who was 8, and Madison, who was 10. He kissed Megan’s head. He blessed my wedding ring from Michael. That’s the closest for me to God. I couldn’t have been more blessed in my life.
He blessed the blue wall of the memorial, where 8,000 remains still are. The reason I’m here and I survived the nightmare is because of God. How blessed we were to have Pope Francis. He let me know I was put here for a reason.”
Stephanie Gabaud, White Plains
“I was going through a very difficult time in my life when I was 16. I was born with spina bifida [a birth defect that causes paralysis]. I’ve gone through so many risky back surgeries, and my surgeon actually cleared me so I could go to St. Patrick’s Cathedral to get the blessing from Pope Francis.
When I got to the front of the church, he wanted it just to be me and him in that moment.
I spoke to him in Spanish and told him I was going to pray for him. Then Pope Francis gave me the Apostolic Blessing. I literally went into a trance.
Before, my life was very touch and go. Since the blessing, all my surgeries have been successful and I’ve been able to travel internationally and go to musicals and plays. My quality of life improved.
Today, I’m working with Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center on building White Plains’ first center for young adults with medical complexities, so that they do not have to be transferred to a nursing home when they turn 21. I’m going to continue to do his [Pope Francis’] work and also God’s work.”
Victor Franco, Hicksville, Long Island
“Pope Francis came to my school, Our Lady Queen of Angels in East Harlem, when I was 13. I remember he looked at everyone with love and care.
What stood out to me the most was asking him if he could please pray for my parents, my family and my grandma, to make sure they’re all healthy.
He looked straight at me and said, ‘I’ll give you that promise, if you promise to pray for me.’ I was speechless. I was a kid at the time. It was very humbling. He holds so much in the church and he’s asking other people to pray for him?
I’ll always remember that moment. He was just a regular person just trying to be compassionate about my family.”