‘A moment of profound emotion and reflection’: Pope Francis’ faithful mourners

“I felt a deep need to express my gratitude, my respect and my desire to strengthen the spiritual bond with the figure who, to me, represents the heart of the Catholic faith,” said Daniel Sanz, who had traveled from Spain.

“Being in the presence of the pope was a moment of profound emotion and reflection, an opportunity to renew my commitment to those values,” the teenager told NBC News.

Standing with the group of friends with whom he’d made the journey from Madrid, Sanz wore white rosary beads around his neck, explaining that “for me, Catholicism is a guide for life. It is a path that invites me to live with humility, responsibility and love for others.”