Pope Francis called the mother of Luca Re Sartù, 24, a young Italian who died after being in Portugal for World Youth Day, reportedly contracting a bacteria.
“He was extremely kind. He was moved with me, he cried with me and above all he was like a father. He comforted me as if he were my father,” said the young man’s mother, as described by the assistant bishop of Rome , Monsignor Luca Raimondi, who presided over the funeral ceremonies, quoted by Vatican News. “The mother was very impressed,” the bishop added.
The young man’s funeral took place on Friday at the Church of Santo Ilario in Marnate, in the province of Varese. According to Vatican News, Lisbon’s Auxiliary Bishop Dom Américo Aguiar sent a message ahead of the celebration, during which the World Youth Day national anthem was played.
Luca Re Sartù will have contracted an infection via the bacteria staphylococcus, which has evolved into septicemia, which can lead to organ failure, when he took part in the WYD, which took place between August 1 and August 6. He developed a fever and felt extremely tired while still in Portugal, where he decided to stay for three days after the event. He will have been helped in the Portuguese capital, the symptoms being related to the fatigue of the days spent at WYD and the sudden change in temperature.
On his return to Italy, still at the airport in Bergamo, Milan, he received medical attention and was taken to hospital, where he suffered a heart attack. It ended with dying.
Source: DN
