Pope Leo XIV sought Thursday to console the families of Italian teenagers who were killed or injured in the Swiss bar fire at a New Year's party, acknowledging their anguish and urging them to try to find hope in “the darkest and most painful moments” of their lives.
Leo met with around two dozen relatives of the Italian victims, deviating from his prepared speech to tell them that he had immediately agreed to meet with them after learning of their desire to have an audience.
