Pope Francis expressed his "deepest sympathy and compassion" as well as his closeness to the Solomons in his prayers "for the young man who died so tragically."
Pope Francis honors what St. John Paul II called the indulgence's message of "pardon and reconciliation, that is, of grace, which divine goodness pours out on us if we are well disposed because God is truly rich in mercy."
The pope's appeal came in the wake of a surge in violence in Syria. Government-led air raids reportedly bombed hospitals and other medical centers, killing patients and medical personnel.
Having HIV "is purely a medical condition," Loretto Sister Mary Owens said; she wants people to know "how unjust it is to stigmatize people...who are so vulnerable."