Bronx woman wins lottery to visit Pope Francis

WASHINGTON, DC (WABC) -- A Bronx woman won the lottery to be the special guest of the Pope when he visits Washington, DC.

Carmen Esteras, from the Bronx, won the sole ticket to attend the Joint Meeting of Congress with His Holiness Pope Francis.

Senator Charles Schumer announced the winners of the statewide lottery to see Pope Francis make his address.

Each of the 100 winners will receive two tickets to be part of the papal audience on the West Lawn of the Capitol.

The speech will be a historic event because Pope Francis will be the first Pope to ever address a joint meeting of Congress.

Tickets for both the Joint Meeting of Congress and the Papal Audience were only provided through Congressional offices and were free of charge.

Winners were notified personally following the lottery.

Senator Schumer said that while some winners did not wish to have their names listed publicly, those listed below are among the many winners.

They will travel to Washington, DC with a guest to be a part of the papal audience in late September.

Hudson Valley - From New Paltz, to Tarrytown, to Warwick

Thomas Gallo

Diana Healey

Eileen Hobbs

Rosemarie Gonzalez

Robin Donovan

Nancy Reinauer

Long Island - From Brentwood, to Ronkonkoma, to Commack & Bethpage

Catherine Lowy

Angela Alarcon

Daniel Mercuri

Catherine Rehman

Alice Rios

MaryEllen Humphrey

Claudia Kubik

New York City - From Manhattan, to Queens, to Staten Island

Elvia Pelaez

Veronica Ball

Joseph Diaz

Adrian Tahiri

Trisha Powell

Frances Raybaud

Joseph Valdellon

Daniel Ayala

Esther Li

Emanoil Shafik

Regina Gregoria

Paula Acosta Aviles