Pope Francis funeral updates: Pope Francis laid to rest after historic funeral in front of 250,000

Valerie Herrera, a 26-year-old from Illinois, told ABC News that Pope Francis “touched her heart” after she was involved in a notable interaction with the pontiff in 2015.

ABC News and "World News Tonight" held a historic town hall in 2015, where Pope Francis participated in a virtual audience with Americans from across the country, moderated by ABC News anchor David Muir.

The groundbreaking event, held Aug. 31, 2015, marked the first time a pope had ever engaged in such direct dialogue with Americans through virtual technology.

The pope spoke for nearly an hour via satellite to groups including Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago; Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, Texas; and homeless individuals and outreach workers in Los Angeles.

Valerie Herrera was 17 when she shared her story with Pope Francis about struggling with a rare skin disorder and turning to music to cope with bullying. In a touching moment during the virtual town hall, the pope asked her to sing for him.

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Valerie Herrera reflects on singing to Pope Francis at 2015 ABC News town hallValerie Herrera a 26-year-old from Illinois told ABC News that Pope Francis “touched her heart” after she was involved in a notable interaction with the pontiff in 2015.

ABCNews.com

As cheers filled the room at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago, Herrera sang a song of her choice, moving many in the audience. The pope thanked her with his characteristic warm smile.

Now 26 and working as a nurse outside Chicago, Herrera reflects on that transformative moment.

"When I think about Pope Francis, I remember his warming and welcoming smile when he asked me to sing for him," Herrera told ABC News. "That's the face I will always remember."

Herrera detailed how the moment with the pontiff inspired her in her carrer and personal life, saying it "taught me to just to be more of a woman of faith that is here to serve others, that is here to provide care as a nurse."

"I have the responsibility to care for those that are under my care. I have the responsibility to provide and give everything that I have in order to ensure that people are healing, people are getting better, and to provide the love and compassion that family members and patients really need in their time of weakness when they're sick," Herrera said.

The chapel next to where Francis was being buried is home to a Byzantine-style icon of the Madonna, the Salus Populi Romani.

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Pope Francis’ coffin enters final resting place of Saint Mary MajorPope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, will be buried Saturday at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major after dying one week ago at 88 years old.

ABCNews.com

Francis was particularly devoted, and reportedly would pray before the icon before and after each of his foreign trips during his 12 years as pope.

The thousands lining the streets of Rome applauded as the popemobile carrying Pope Francis’ simple wooden coffin passed by.

In some places, it seemed the streets were so narrow that mourners could almost reach out and touch the popemobile – as sometimes happened when Francis rode through St. Peter’s Square.

Tens of thousands of people have lined the four-mile route between St. Peter's Basilica and Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where Pope Francis will be laid to rest this afternoon.

People could be seen crying and applauding the vehicle carrying his coffin as thousands took the final opportunity to thank Pope Francis.

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Converted popemobile leads funeral procession for Pope FrancisFor the funeral procession from St. Peter's to Santa Maria Maggiore, where Pope Francis is to be buried, the back end of a popemobile that Francis had used has been adapted, ANSA reported.

ABCNews.com

The procession is taking the pope's body past a number of Rome's historical landmarks, including the Roman Forum and the Colosseum.

When Pope Francis arrives at Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major, it will be the last time he will be seen in public before he is buried, and the basilica reopens to visitors again on Sunday.