NEW: Pope Leo XIV teared up this morning while paying homage to his friend and predecessor, Pope Francis, who died one year ago this Easter Monday.

Few people know that for years before he became pope, Robert Prevost met most Saturdays with Francis inside the Casa Santa Marta.

And in the final weeks of his life, from a hospital bed at Gemelli, Francis elevated him to the highest rank of cardinal — the act that placed him at the center of the conclave that would soon elect him pope.

Pope Francis's last and best gift to the Church and the world was Pope Leo XIV.