Pope prays for aid worker who died in Tacloban mass

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Pope Francis asked for prayers for the female volunteer who died following the papal mass held near the Daniel Z. Romualdez airport here last Saturday.

“I would like all of you, young like her, to pray for a moment in silence with me and then we pray to our mama, our lady, in heaven,” the pope said during a gathering with the youth at the University of Santo Tomas yesterday.

The pope was referring to Kristel May Padasas, who died after being struck in the head by steel scaffolding at the site of the mass shortly after Pope Francis left.

“She worked for the organization and preparation for that very mass. She was 27 years old, young like yourselves. She worked for Catholic Relief Services (CRS). She was a volunteer,” the pope said.

After praying for Padasas, the pontiff also called on those gathered to pray for her parents.

“She was an only daughter. Her mother is coming from Hong Kong. Her father is coming from Manila,” he said.

According to a report on ABS-CBNNews.com, Pope Francis has met with Pasadas’ father Paulino, who said that his brief conversation with the pontiff yesterday morning, which lasted about five minutes, was enough to lessen his grief.

The same report said the pope has given him three rosaries and two medallions with the image of the Sto. Niño.

According to CRS, Padasas was based in Samar and worked on a recovery project for Super Typhoon Yolanda.

“Her dedication to the people affected by the typhoon extended beyond her official work with CRS,” the group said in a statement. – With Alexis Romero