Mariam Wuolou, Pope Francis’ pregnant receptionist has been found dead in her apartment located on the outskirts of Rome.
The 34-year-old Eritrean woman who had worked for years at the Pope’s home and Santa Marta, a priest’s guest house as at the time of her death was seven months heavy into pregnancy.
Italian press reported that the deceased had worked as a gatekeeper at Santa Marta guesthouse, a choice of accommodation for the Pope who had rejected the Grand papal apartment for fear of isolation.
Wuolou who had a serious kind of diabetes which had led doctors to warn her of the risk it posed to her pregnancy also worked for the Bishops and cardinals that stayed at the guesthouse.
Investigations by the police however showed that there was no sign of violence but the police are investigating a case of neglect and have called in family members, her ex-husband and her most recent boyfriend for questioning.
The deceased was found by her brother on Friday after he had not heard from her in several days. Autopsy reports on the deceased and DNA tests reports carried out on the foetus are yet to be released.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said. “Pope Francis had been informed of the death. We are all pained by this news.”