Pope Leo XIV prays for Egyptian Jubilee of Youth pilgrim who died in Rome
Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd following his unexpected ride around St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican following the Jubilee of Youth welcome Mass — which was celebrated by Archbishop Rino Fisichella (right) — on July 29, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Vatican City, Aug 2, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday offered heartfelt prayers for Pascale Rafic, a Jubilee of Youth pilgrim from Egypt who died in Rome.
According to the Holy See Press Office, the pope privately met with the group of pilgrims traveling with Rafic at the Vatican on Saturday morning to give spiritual comfort to the young people left shaken by the tragic event.
“All of a sudden, we are reminded in a very powerful way, that our life is not superficial nor do we have control over our own lives nor do we know as Jesus himself says, neither the day nor the hour when for some reason our earthy life ends,” Leo told the young people from Egypt.
“And so in a certain way, as we celebrate this Jubilee year of hope,” he continued, “we are reminded in a very powerful way how much our faith in Jesus Christ needs to be part of who we are, of how we live, of how we appreciate and respect one another, and especially of how we continue to move forward in spite of such painful experiences.”
The Italian religious news service Agensir reported Aug. 2 the young woman died from cardiac arrest.
Prior to his meeting with the pilgrim group, Pope Leo contacted Greek Melkite religious leader Bishop Jean-Marie Chami of the Patriarchate of Antioch to express his spiritual closeness with Rafic’s family and her community.
“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,” the Vatican statement read.
Speaking to the pilgrims traveling with Rafic, Pope Leo recalled that while it is natural and human to cry at the pain of someone dying — as Catholics, we have hope in the resurrection.
“Our hope is in Jesus Christ who is risen,” he said. “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. And for all of you it has touched your lives in a very personal and direct way today.”
Bishop Stefano Russo of Velletri-Segni expressed his condolences to Rafic’s family on behalf of the diocesan community who hosted Rafic in the town of Artena during her jubilee pilgrimage.
“A guest in our diocese, along with her group, on their way to Rome, Pascale left us in Christian hope, embraced by the Father's mercy,” he said. “We are convinced of this, having accompanied her on the final leg of her earthly journey.”
“We pray for Pascale, her family, and her friends,” he said.
This story was updated at 10:55 a.m. ET with Pope Leo XIV's words to the pilgrims from Egypt.
