POPE MEETS PARENTS OF BOY KILLED IN ROME

Vatican, July 6, 2016 – Pope Francis today met with parents of Beau Solomon, a 19-year-old student taking part in a summer study abroad program that was killed in the Vatican.

In a statement after the Pope’s meeting with Solomon’s parents, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, said Pope Francis expressed his “feelings of deep sympathy and compassion” and “his closeness in prayer to the Lord for the young man who died so tragically.”

According to Vatican Radio, Solomon’s parents arrived Rome on Monday evening, adding that on Tuesday, the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, John Phillips, released a statement saying, he was saddened to learn of the tragic death of Beau Solomon.

“ My heart goes out to his family and friends. The U.S. Embassy stands ready to provide support to Italian authorities investigating his disappearance and death”, the statement said.

Beau Solomon, a 19-year-old student taking part in a summer study abroad program, was reported missing Friday evening but his body was found in the Tiber River on Monday following an extensive search.

A homeless man has been arrested in connection with Solomon’s death, with police saying the man was “seriously suspected of aggravated homicide.”