Vatican City, Feb 27, 2016 / 10:04 am
Before meeting with the president of Argentina Saturday, Pope Francis stopped by the funeral of Miriam Wuolou, a Vatican employee who died last week along with her unborn child, to pray and leave a bouquet of white roses.
"Before the celebration the Holy Father went into the church to stand in prayer and in memory of the deceased, demonstrating his affection and his respect," Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi SJ said Feb. 27.
He said Pope Francis prayed in front of Wuolou's coffin for 20 minutes before laying the bouquet and taking his leave.
Wuolou was the receptionist at the Vatican's Saint Martha guesthouse, where the Pope resides. She was found dead in her home Feb. 19.