Not long after being elected as the leader of the Catholic Church in 2013, Pope Francis visited Lampedusa, Italy, along the dangerous route many migrants traveled to reach Europe. ????? ???????  

Her response to the 2014 influx is what caught the pope's eye -- and he singled her out during a 2015 ABC News virtual audience to praise her work. ????????????  

Pimentel noted the pope's personal connection to migrants' struggles and his constant push for empathy when dealing with refugees. ?????  

Speaking to ABC News on Thursday, Pimentel recalled her work with migrant families in 2014 when she helped Border Patrol respond to large groups of families arriving in poor conditions, mostly from El Salvador. She highlighted the community's response at Sacred Heart Parish Hall and discussed the impact of Pope Francis' support. ????? ??????? &nb

Sister Norma Pimentel has been the face of immigrant advocacy in South Texas for more than a decade, overseeing the Rio Grande Valley in her role as executive director of Catholic Charities. ????????????