NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press
ABOARD THE PAPAL AIRPLANE (AP) — Pope Francis has offered prayers for an Italian video journalist working for The Associated Press and his Palestinian translator who were killed in the Gaza Strip.
Francis held his head in his hands and stood for a minute of silent prayer before more than 70 journalists traveling with him to South Korea aboard the papal plane.
He said “these are the consequences of war.”
Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, told Francis about the deaths of Simone Camilli and Ali Shehda Abu Afash, saying reporters take tremendous risks.
Francis, who came to the back of the plane to greet the press, was clearly moved.
He said: “I have to make a silent prayer for Simone Camilli, one of yours, who today left us in service. Let us pray in silence.”
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