Pope Francis telephoned a young Italian widower who had just lost his wife during the birth of his twin sons.

Upon hearing this story, the Holy Father wanted to express his closeness to Giacomo Cofano and assured him that he is praying for him and his young children Edoardo Maria and Emilia Maria after the recent death of the young mother.

According to local press reports, Viviana Delego, 41, died on December 22 shortly after giving birth to twins in a hospital in Brindisi, southern Italy, due to “serious complications” of childbirth.

The Holy Father learned of what happened through Fr. Donato Liuzzi, parish priest in the town of Pezze di Greco (Fasano), in southern Italy.

The priest recounted that Pope Francis first sent a personal letter to Giacomo Cofano on December 25 and hours later, on Christmas afternoon, he called him by telephone.

The pastor described that he told the Holy Father about Viviana’s death and the gestures of closeness of the people.

“We listened to the heart of the Pastor very attentive and sensitive. We thank the Lord for this caress on the wounded human flesh that He comes to save. We are grateful for the motherhood of the Church, visible in the Pope’s humble gestures. It is a Christmas we will never forget!”, wrote the priest.

This article was originally published on ACI Prensa.