Thousands of mourners stood in line for hours to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, whose body is lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica. Among them was Diane Karla Abano, who carried with her the memory of a previous encounter with the Pope and the transformative blessing that impacted her entire family.

Seven years ago, on May 2, 2018, Abano and her family found themselves amidst the crowds of Saint Peter's Square, attending a weekly audience with Pope Francis.

This moment, however, was not just another day for the Abano family, but a significant turning point that transformed their financial and housing struggles.

Abano's daughters, four-year-old Sophia and two-year-old Francesca, were lifted out of the crowd and personally blessed by the Pope.

"The moment that I reached out to the Pope and saw his smile, I don't know, all the hurt, all the pain that I felt, it changed into happiness and hope," Abano said, her voice breaking and tears welling in her eyes as she showed photos of the event. 

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The family's fortunes shifted shortly after their encounter with the Pope. A much-desired flat they had been hoping to rent became available again, and they promptly moved in. Soon after, a neighbor assisted Abano's husband in finding a job, providing a much-needed boost to their financial situation.

The Abanos, originally from the Philippines, had migrated to Italy and started a family. John Ryan Abano had moved to the Italian province of Loreto two decades ago. Diane joined him after their wedding in 2012, and in 2014, they relocated to Rome.

As migrants, the Abanos deeply resonated with Pope Francis's advocacy for the poor, oppressed, and displaced.

"In the eyes of Pope Francis, we are not migrants, we're all the same people," Abano said. 

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When asked about the potential of the next Pope being from the Philippines, Abano said that when she read about Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, she found some interesting coincidences: she shares a birthday with him, and her grandfather carries the same family name.

"But I'm still not thinking about the next pope," she said, adding she is still mourning Pope Francis.

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The news of Pope Francis's passing brought Abano back to the moment captured in the photos. "He's not just a Pope, he's a relative. He's a very important family member to me," she confessed, her voice heavy with emotion as she walked near the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square with her children. "I will miss him so much."

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(Production: Malgorzata Wojtunik, Leonardo Benassatto)