The Deacon's Bench
A 27-year-old Catholic charity worker has been killed after she was hit by a piece of scaffolding during a visit to the Philippines by Pope Francis.
Kristel Padasas was volunteering at a mass officiated by the Pope near Tacloban’s airport today when a scaffolding reportedly holding huge speakers was blown over by strong winds.
She suffered a fractured skull and was taken to St Paul’s Hospital in Tacloban City, shortly after the leader of the Catholic church departed, where she was pronounced dead, according to reports.
Vatican spokesman the Rev Federico Lombardi said the Pope was informed of the woman’s death after returning to Manila.
He asked his aides ‘to investigate how he could show his own suffering in solidarity with the (woman’s) family’, Mr Lombardi said.
Ms Padasas, from Manila, was based in the Samar province of the island where she was working on a recovery project for typhoon Haiyan with charity, Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
UPDATE: From the Vatican, word that Pope Francis met with the father of Kristel:
Pope Francis on Sunday met with the father of Kristel Padasas, the 27-year old volunteer who died at Saturday’s Mass in Tacloban.
Padasas was mortally injured when scaffolding by the stage where the Mass took place collapsed during the wind caused by Tropical Storm Anang, which was approaching the area.
The meeting took place in the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila, and lasted over 20 minutes, with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle acting as an interpreter.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, said during the meeting, two childhood photos of Kristen were on the table. He also said the father was shocked by his daughter’s death, but consoled by the fact that she had been able to help prepare for the arrival of the Pope.
Kristel’s mother was in Hong Kong at the time of the accident, and is due back in the Philippines on Monday.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In