The Pope has met with the parents of Beau Solomon, the 19-year-old American student whose body was found in Rome's Tiber river after an altercation with a homeless man.

A statement from the Vatican said that Pope Francis had expressed to Beau's parents, Nick and Jodi, during the unscheduled meeting strong sentiments of 'compassion and his closeness in prayer to the Lord for for the young man who died so tragically.

Beau, from Wisconsin, is believed to have been mugged by a North African crime gang that he chased to the Tiber River where he was then allegedly killed by a homeless man, Massimo Galioto.

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Pope Francis, right, met with the parents of Beau Solomon who came to Rome on a five-week course

Nick and Jodi Solomon flew to Rome after their son was reported missing on Friday morning

According to the Vatican Pope Francis expressed his condolences for the young man who 'died so tragically'

Cole Solomon pictured center in the white vest, beside his brother Beau in the multi-colored vest, as well as the rest of the family said investigators were treating the incident as a murder

Shortly after arriving in Rome, he sent a text message to his mother saying 'Everything's so pretty. It's so beautiful.'

He then went out drinking with fellow students in the Piazza Trilussa area which is popular with tourists and students. He also replied to his father asking from an update saying: 'So amazing here.'

When Solomon left the bar in the early house of Friday morning, police believe he was mugged by two of the gang members who stole his wallet and mobile phone.

Solomon, who was a keen American footballer, gave chase two north African men who ran down an embankment towards the river near the Garibaldi bridge.

Italian media said CCTV footage near the riverbank shows Solomon then getting into a scuffle with Galioto, who has an encampment underneath the bridge.

The footage apparently shows the moment Solomon was pushed into the river. His body was recovered almost three miles downstream from the scene of the attack, on Monday.

Beau Solomon was drinking with friends on the early hours of Friday morning after which he was mugged by a north African crime gang and ended up in the River Tiber following a scuffle with a homeless man

Galioto, 40, has been arrested by Italian authorities who claim he is 'seriously suspected of aggravated homicide'.

Solomon's roommate, who was in the bar with him on Thursday night, assumed his friend had gone home. It was only when Solomon failed to show up for an orientation meeting at the college on Friday was he reported missing.

An initial investigation has shown that Solomon suffered head injuries and his clothing was badly bloodstained. The ANSA news agency said preliminary autopsy results indicated that he had suffered injuries consistent with a fall and with days spent in the water.

The police official said investigators were in particular looking to see if he was conscious when he fell in the water.

Garibaldi Bridge is one of the busiest in Rome and connects the bar-filled Trastevere neighborhood to the other side of the city's historic center.

Brawl: A woman only identified as Alessia, who shares a tent with Galioto, says the pair got into an argument, pushing match and then Solomon fell into the river

Fight: Solomon is said to have come down to this part of the riverbank after being robbed, according to Alessia; this is where he subsequently got in a fight

Italian state TV said charges worth $1,700 were run up Saturday on Solomon's credit card at a Milan store, hundreds of miles from where he was last seen in Rome.

Comments by Galioto's companion suggested that the people who stole Solomon's wallet might have used the credit card, not Galioto.

Solomon was in Rome for a five-week exchange program at John Cabot University.

Devastated: Madisun Holverson , pictured left, wrote: 'The world has suffered a great loss but he will always be with us in our memories and in our hearts. You are loved so much Beau, rest in peace'

John Cabot, an English-language university in the Italian capital, said it had been alerted by Solomon's roommate that he had lost contact with Solomon around 1 am Friday and was worried when he didn't show up for orientation later that day.

The president of John Cabot, Franco Pavoncello, said the school takes maximum measures to keep its students safe on campus and around its residences, using both Italian soldiers and private security forces.

But Pavoncello said it was up to Italian authorities to keep people safe on the streets of Rome.

Solomon's family said they understand he had suffered a serious head wound and had blood on his shirt

He said: 'Nightlife is nightlife. It's not up to the president of John Cabot University to do an evaluation of the dangers of Rome's nightlife, it's up to judicial authorities.'

On Wednesday morning, the university said it wanted to clarify statements made by its president Mr Pavoncello.

They said Pavoncello was asked whether Rome was dangerous at night. The college said it was an issue for the public authorities as they could not give a 'yes or no' answer.

The college said it has its own private security which patrols the area.

Solomon had just completed his first year as a personal finance major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Cole Solomon, Beau Solomon's 23-year-old brother, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Monday that investigators were treating the incident as a murder.

Another brother, Jake Solomon, described Beau as an athlete who successfully battled cancer for years as a child.

Solomon had just completed his first year in college and was on an exchange course in Rome

On Tuesday, the US ambassador to Italy, John Phillips, pledged his assistance to Italian authorities investigating the death.

He said: 'My heart goes out to his family and friends.'

'We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau,' said a statement from the Rome-based English language university where Solomon had just arrived for an exchange program.

Madisun Holverson, a friend of Beau's, paid tribute to him on Facebook.

'The world has suffered a great loss but he will always be with us in our memories and in our hearts. You are loved so much Beau, rest in peace.'

Solomon's family was in Italy and John Cabot University was in contact with Italian authorities, the US Embassy and his US college, its President Franco Pavoncello told The Associated Press.

On Sunday, Nick Solomon, Beau's father, posted a heartbreaking snap of the whole family along with the message: 'Wanting us all together soon. Mom and I are on our way. Please God help us find out son.'

There have been several recent cases of American students in Rome running into trouble, especially during a night out drinking. Many American students are surprised to find that alcohol can be easily acquired in Italian supermarkets, bars or restaurants.

In 2012, a US student was allegedly stabbed by his roommate, a fellow student at John Cabot University, after what police said was a night of alcohol and possible drug use. The stabbed student survived.