United Kingdom, May 22 -- Gayle King "felt something" in the presence of Pope Leo.

The 70-year-old broadcaster and her friends Oprah Winfrey and Maria Shriver attended the pontiff's inauguration mass on 18 May and though she isn't Catholic, she was still moved when he passed by her and her pals.

She told People magazine: "You're sitting in the front row, and Pope Leo goes by in the popemobile! We are like, 'Chicago, Chicago!'

"You just felt something being in his presence. You really did.

"We were excited to be there to witness history."

Gayle has been involved in another historic moment really as she was part of an all-female crew that blasted off to space on a Blue Origin flight.

But the broadcaster - who was joined on the trip by...