Vatican City, Jul 6, 2016 / 02:50 am
After the tragic death of Beau Solomon in Rome late last week, Pope Francis met with the young student's parents, who traveled to the city once they heard that their son was missing.
"This morning…around 9 a.m. the Pope met with the parents of Beau Solomon, the young American student found dead in the Tiber during the past few days," a July 6 communique from the Holy See Press Office read.
Francis, it said, expressed his sentiments of "deep sympathy and compassion," as well as his closeness in prayer to the youth, who "so tragically passed away," and his family.
Beau, 19, was a sophomore visiting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a five week summer study abroad course at Rome's John Cabot University. He arrived in the Italian capital Thursday, and was reported missing by his roommate when he failed to show up for an orientation meeting Friday morning.