"The child who loses a parent is an orphan. But there is no term for a parent who loses a child," the Pope wrote in the magazine "Piazza San Pietro" (March).
The reply to the grieving mother Cinzia continues. "Jesus, who weeps with us, will sow in our hearts all the answers we seek," wrote Francis a few days before his hospital admission on 14 February, according to the Vatican (Thursday). "There is no evil from which God does not know how to draw a greater good," he quoted his predecessor John Paul II.
"Only you, Holy Father, can answer these questions"
Cinzia had told the Pope in a letter that after the accidental death of her son Fabrizio at the age of 21, she and her husband Antonio had sunk into hatred, anger and pain and had lost their faith.
She is now able to pray again, but her husband cannot. "To get up again and make sense of this misfortune", they founded the association "Together for Fabrizio", which promotes road safety training in schools, among other things.
She asks Francis why the Lord did not save her son. "And where is Fabrizio? Is he in heaven? Has he become our guardian angel? Only you, Holy Father, can answer these questions that concern me every day."
She prays for the Pope every day, according to Cinzia's letter, which is printed together with the Pope's reply in the magazine "Piazza San Pietro" ("St Peter's Square").
The magazine is published by the St Peter's Cathedral Building Society and first appeared in December at the beginning of the Holy Year.
The magazine on ecclesiastical and social topics is available around St Peter's Basilica and can also be ordered by e-mail.