Gov. Susana Martinez is hoping Pope Francis will reinvigorate Catholics worldwide and fix any problems that are lingering from recent scandals.
Martinez was in Rome on Tuesday with a U.S. delegation led by Vice President Joseph Biden to greet the new pope and attend his inauguration and first mass.
She told Fox News Latino that the papal inauguration fell on the anniversary of the 2006 death of her mother Paula, who died of cancer.
Martinez wants Pope Francis to bless a photo she has of her mother during her first communion.
Her father, Jake, died last December.
Martinez says she plans to pray for her family, her New Mexican constituents and "for the pope that he's able to bring together those who have left the church."
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.