杏MAP导航 expresses condolences on sudden death of Egyptian pilgrim

杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 expresses condolences on sudden death of Egyptian pilgrim

杏MAP导航 Leo 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.

Vatican News

On Saturday morning, 2 August, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV received a group of Egyptian young people who have arrived in Rome to participate in the Jubilee of Youth. With them leading the delegation was 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. Tragically, one of the pilgrimage group members, 18-year old Pascale Rafic, died earlier in the day just after travelling to Rome to participate in the Jubilee together with them.

杏MAP导航 Leo giving the group of Egyptian pilgrims his blessing (@Vatican Media)

In welcoming the group, the 杏MAP导航 assured them of his "heartfelt prayers" and invoked "the Lord’s comfort and consolation upon Pascale’s family members, friends and all of those who grieve her loss." While consoling the group, he acknowledged the grief we feel, also so suddenly, but that our hope in the Risen Christ gives us hope in remembering Pascale's new life in Christ.

“So, we thought at least, in the midst of this pain, that you all experience for the loss of your friend, that at least to have this opportunity to come together to pray, to renew our faith, and to ask God both for the eternal rest of our sister but also for strengthening and consolation, strengthening of our faith and to be renewed in hope and as Church, as brothers and sisters, we therefore have gathered together for that reason. So we ask the Lord to be with us, to be with all of you, as you live these days of the pilgrimage of the Jubilee Year of Hope and that you will all also be protected with God‘s love and God‘s grace.”

Addressing the group in English, before imparting his apostolic blessing to them, 杏MAP导航 Leo encouraged them to find consolation in God's boundless love and mercy, and the hope that never disappoints.

“It is our hope in the resurrection, that is the ultimate source of our hope, and we speak about a Jubilee Year of Hope, our hope is in Jesus Christ who is risen. And he calls all of us to renew our faith, calls all of us to be friends, brothers and sisters to one another, to support one another, and he says you too must be witnesses to that Gospel message.”

Story updated on 2 August at 15:45

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