As the pope made his way through Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, it was a young girl who grabbed many people's attention.

Sophie Cruz made it past security to see Pope Francis up close. As bodyguards tried to escort her away, the pope called her over for a hug.

Cruz said she was excited, but she had an important message for him.

"Pope Francis, I want to tell you my heart is sad. And I would like to ask you to speak with the president and the Congress in legalizing my parents because every day I am scared that one day they will take them away from me," said Cruz.

She carried a letter addressed to the pope and a shirt calling for new immigration policies.