Pope Leo XIV has received “with deep regret” the news of the sudden death of a young Egyptian pilgrim who was heading to Rome to participate in the activities of the young people’s jubilee. This is Pascale Rafic, 18.
The Holy Father contacted his excellence Jean-Marie Chami, auxiliary bishop of the Patriarchy of Antioch of the Greco-Melquitas for Egypt, Sudan and South Sudan, “to express their spiritual proximity to the family of the young woman and the entire community,” according to the press office of the Holy See.
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“By sharing the duel of those affected by this tragic episode, the Holy Father assures all his sincere prayers and invokes the comfort and consolation of the Lord for family, friends and all those who cry their loss,” adds the statement.
In addition, Leo XIV gathered late in the morning with the group of pilgrims with which Pascale was traveling, and preparing to participate in the activities in Tor Vergata.
During the audience, he recalled that the sadness produced by death “is something very human and very understandable”, especially when it comes unexpectedly, even more in the midst of the retirement celebrations.
The Holy Father said that these situations remind us “in a very powerful way that our life is not superficial, that we have no control over our own lives and that, as Jesus himself says, we do not know the day or time when, for some reason, our earthly life will end.”
Faith in Jesus, which is resurrection and life, “must be part of who we are, how we live, how we appreciate and respect each other, and especially how we move on despite such painful experiences,” said Leo XIV.
In addition, he recalled the example of San Agustín, who invites us to trust the resurrection, “which is the ultimate source of our hope,” foundation of the Jubilee Year of Hope. “Our hope is in Jesus Christ who has risen,” he added.
The Pope asked young people to witness the Gospel, who “has touched their lives in a very personal and direct way today.” Despite the pain, he said, this experience presents the group of pilgrims the opportunity to gather to pray, renew their faith and “ask God for both the eternal rest of our sister and also strength and comfort.”
Msgr. Stefano Russo, Obispo de Velletri-Segni, He expressed his closeness To the family of the young Egyptian, join the condolences of Leo XIV.
“Invited in our diocese, along with her group, on the way to Rome, Pascale left us with Christian hope, hugged by the mercy of the Father. We are convinced of it, after having accompanied her in the last stage of her earthly pilgrimage. We pray for Pascale, her family and her friends,” said the bishop.
What happened?
According to the Italian pressPascale suffered a heart condition. He was next to his group in the town of Artena, south of Rome. On the night of August 1, he began to feel bad as he returned by bus to the Italian capital.
The emergency services decided to transfer her to Colleferro Hospital, but died on the way.
Andrés Henríquez
I was born in Caracas in 1996. I am a writer for ACI Press and correspondent of EWTN since 2023. Since then, I cover events of the Catholic Church in Venezuela, Latin America and the world. I have more than 6 years of experience in bilingual media. In addition, in Venezuela I have worked from various fields for freedom and respect for fundamental rights in the country. I am a member of the Regnum Christi Federation since 2014.