Ex-LA Mayor Richard Riordan To Meet With Mystery Woman In Picture With Pope John Paul II

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan has solved a head-scratching mystery.

Just a few days ago, Riordan, who is currently working on his memoirs, received a photo taken in 1987 when Pope John Paul II was at St. Vibiana's Cathedral.

In the picture, the pope is speaking with a woman, while Riordan is standing in the background.

"They're talking together, not just shaking hands. And it brings me back to the fact that I never had the chance to shake the pope's hand," Riordan said. "He has his eyes directly on her, and I'm jealous because I wanted to shake his hand and I never had the chance."

Riordan said there are no hard feelings, he just wants to know who the woman is and hear what the pope had to say.

"I think it'll make me feel good about myself. I can't say why, but it just will," he said.

The 83-year-old sent the photo out to the media and put it up at his famous coffee shop and restaurant, the Original Pantry Café, where he offered breakfast for anyone who helped him find her.

Someone did eventually recognize the woman.

Late Thursday afternoon, CBS2's Amy Johnson spoke with 55-year-old Robin Kochis of West Covina.

She said meeting the pope changed her life. She went on to produce Christian music.

Next week, she and her family will have breakfast with Riordan.