The Ek's have framed photos of their meetings with the Pope placed around their St. Cloud home.
Their daughter, Sue, also met the pope. Sue Ek wrote a book on natural family planning, and presented the pope with a copy. She remembers the pope as an approachable, yet strong, figure who she felt had a direct connection with God. But she was also impressed with a more worldly aspect of the pope.
"I remember seeing his shoes, they were these gorgeous, deep-brown leather Italian shoes and it was just so cool to be right there in front of him, really an honor," she says.