BREAKING Teen Dies Suddenly During Youth Jubilee in Rome - Pope Leo XIV Offers Condolences - RIP Pascale Rafic

Pope Leo XIV expresses his deep sorrow upon receiving news of the sudden death of an 18-year old Egyptian youth, Pascale Rafic, who was traveling to Rome to participate in the Jubilee of Youth.

The young woman, suffered from heart problems, died of cardiac arrest in the south of Rome.

Pope Leo XIV  welcomed the group of Egyptian youth Pascale was part of, led by their Bishop Jean-Marie Chami. Pope Leo XIV personally offered his condolences and prayed with them in remembering their fellow friend and pilgrim. (SEE Image below from Vatican Media)

According to the Italian press, Pascale Rafic was staying with her group in Artena. The teen suffered from heart disease, had felt ill on Friday morning. She was taken to Valmontone Hospital, and the staff was unable to revive her, she died while being transferred to Colleferro hospital.

The Pope contacted Jean-Marie Chami, Titular Bishop of Tarsus and Auxiliary Bishop of the Patriarchate of Antioch of the Greek Melkites for Egypt, Sudan and South Sudan, to offer "his spiritual closeness to the young woman’s family and the entire community."
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has learned with deep sorrow the news of the sudden death of 18-year-old Pascale Rafic, who was traveling to Rome from Egypt to participate in the Jubilee of Youth.

The Holy Father has contacted His Excellency Jean-Marie Chami, Titular Bishop of Tarsus and Auxiliary Bishop of the Patriarchate of Antioch of the Greek Melkites for Egypt, Sudan and South Sudan, to express his spiritual closeness to the young woman’s family and the entire community.

Later this morning, he will meet at the Vatican with the group of pilgrims who were traveling with Pascale. The meeting, marked by profound sadness, will be an opportunity for prayer and spiritual comfort for the young people who are still shaken by the painful event.

In sharing in the mourning of those affected by this tragic episode, the Holy Father assures all of his heartfelt prayers and invokes the Lord’s comfort and consolation upon Pascale’s family members, friends and all of those who grieve her loss.
Sources: Vatican News and Vatican.va

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/morta-18enne-giubileo-giovani.html