PORT CHESTER, N.Y. — Carpenter Hector Rojas tried to explain the emotion behind cutting, sanding and assembling a wooden chair that Pope Francis will use during a Mass at Madison Square Garden in his first U.S. visit.

“It’s a beautiful feeling, when people count on you,” said Rojas, who is from Mexico but lives in Port Chester, north of New York City.

Francisco Santamaria, left, working on a papal chair with Fausto Hernandez, says, “It is a great pleasure to do this. The pope is our idol.” The Associated Press

Rojas, 30, Francisco Santamaria, 61, of Nicaragua and Fausto Hernandez, 51, of the Dominican Republic are day laborers from Don Bosco Workers and Obreros Unidos de Yonkers, chosen by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York to build the chair.

“They could have called a large company, but they called us,” Rojas said. “We are very happy to help them.”

“It is a great pleasure to do this. The pope is our idol,” Santamaria said.

Francis also will meet some of the day laborer’s wives, who are weaving and embroidering 10 white tablecloths for the pontiff’s visit.

“I will ask many blessings for my family,” said craftswoman Agueda Zavaleta of her plans for when she meets the pope.

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