Pope Francis in meeting Kristel's father: What faith

MANILA, Philippines - It was Pope Francis' turn to be inspired and admire one person's faith during a meeting on Sunday with the father of the woman who died after the pontiff's Mass in Tacloban City.

Thousands of Filipinos have been moved by Pope Francis in his homilies and remarks during the last three days that he has been in the Philippines.

The Roman Pontiff made people cry when he asked thousands of young people at the University of Santo Tomas to join him in silence and pray for 27-year-old Kristel Mae "Mhai" Padasas.

After the youth encounter at the university, Pope Francis had a private meeting with Kristel's grieving father, Paulino, and an uncle in the Apostolic Nunciature.

"The Holy Father was searching for words. How do you console with words a father who has just lost an only child?" Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle told media at the Diamond Hotel after the Mass in Rizal Park (formerly Luneta).

Tagle said that during the meeting, Paulino surprised Pope Francis with his words.

"This grieving father said, I have accepted this. I have resigned to the fact that my daughter is no longer with me. I rejoice that she died serving other people, especially serving the papal mass," the cardinal said.

He added that Paulino, even as he is grieving, was happy that his daughter died "a meaningful death."

Tagle said that when he translated Paulino's words to Pope Francis, the pontiff just shook his head.

"He said, 'What faith.' He thanked this man," he said.

Tagle said that the pope admired the way that Paulino showed compassion and mercy, the theme of the pontiff's visit in the Philippines.

"The holy father was surprised, in a pleasant way. Here he was tring to show compassion and mercy before the holy father," the cardinal added.

Kristel died when she was hit in the head by a scaffolding that collapsed before the pope celebrated Mass in Tacloban City.

The woman, whose mother is working in Hong Kong, is a volunteer worker for Catholic Relief Services. She was a resident of Taguig City and a native of Buhi, Camarines Sur.

In a statement, the Catholic Relief Services said Kristel's colleagues describe her as "someone who loved to laugh and who was always ready to assist outside her normal duties."

"She found great joy in being able to contribute to the recovery effort by working directly with communities and families," the organization said.