Pope Francis has met the father of the young woman who died at Saturday’s Mass in Tacloban.
Kristel Padasas, a 27-year-old volunteer, was fatally injured when scaffolding by the stage where the Mass was taking place fell down. According to reports, the accident was caused by a sudden gust of wind as Tropical Storm Anang approached the area.
Pope Francis met Miss Padasas’s father last night at the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila for more than 20 minutes, with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle acting as interpreter.
Varican spokesman, Jesuit Father Fr Federico Lombardi, said that Miss Padasas’s father was shocked by her death but also consoled by the fact that had been able to help prepare for the arrival of the Pope.
During the meeting, two childhood photos of Miss Padasas were placed on a table in the meeting room. She worked for the US bishops’ international relief and development agency, Catholic Relief Services, on a recovery project for Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda. Her mother was in Hong Kong at the time of the accident, and is due back in the Philippines today.
During his meeting with young people on Sunday morning, Pope Francis led a prayer for Miss Padasas and her parents.
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