Elena

Among them, he shared a particularly special connection with his younger sister, María Elena – now the only surviving member of his immediate family.

Pope Francis also played a pivotal role in the life of his nephew, María Elena's son José Ignacio, who grew up without a father.

"He was close to the people," Elena said fondly, adding that she understood why he "couldn't stay away" from helping those worst off.

"And I think it was the same for Francis," she said, mentioning comments by Francis's sister Maria Elena who told Italian media last month that she and her siblings had grown up in poverty in Argentina.

Elena added: "He never forgot where he was from. Even when he got to the highest role, he never let it change him."