A Rockland County woman whose mother came to the U.S. from Cuba will get to see Pope Francis at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday.

Martha Robles is the executive director of Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland. Her mother emigrated to the states before Fidel Castro came to power, and was never able to return.

She says that seeing a Latin American pope celebrating Mass for the people of Cuba this week held great emotional meaning for her.

Robles was lucky enough to win one of the coveted tickets to attend the pope's Mass at the Garden. She says she is not only excited to see the pontiff in person, but to hear the message he is sending about Catholicism.

"He's walking the life that we are all talking about and I think he's a refreshing, refreshing change for the church," Robles says.