The following is a snippet from the Southwest Jewish Archives regarding the Ilfeld family in the late 1800's.

"Louis Ilfeld married Bertha Staab, who was the eldest daughter of Abraham Staab. Louis was also a successful merchant who was highly regarded and well liked by the community. Louis was kind, generous and understanding to his friends and customers, who often asked for favors. One interesting favor, according Louis' and Anna's daughter Beatrice Ilfeld Meyer, was asked by Father Mandalari of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. As Louis was preparing to take one of his trips to Europe, Father Mandalari asked him to take some rosaries with him and have them blessed by the pope. Louis did not consider this a strange request and "… the rosaries were taken, blessed and returned to the good Father Mandalari" recalled Mrs. Meyer."

How does a Jewish family from NM rate a meeting with the Pope to get some rosaries blessed for a Catholic priest?

This was a very affluent family with rich ties to Europe but it still seemed odd to me that they would have the ear of the Pope. Apparently the priest thought so too.

https://swja.library.arizona.edu/content/ilfelds-family-story