Pope prays for victims of Compostella rail crash

Santiagio de Compostella

Pope Francis has sent a telegram to Archbishop Julian Barrio Barrio of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, to convey his condolences for the 78 dead and more than 140 casualties due to the derailment of a train in the city station yesterday evening. The full text of the telegram is given below:

Profoundly saddened by the serious rail accident near Santiago de Compostela, which has claimed numerous victims and many further casualties, I raise fervent prayers to the Almighty for all those killed and injured in this tragic event. With great suffering I ask your excellency to kindly convey my spiritual closeness, affection and sincere fraternal solidarity to those who have suffered in this tragedy and to their families. I assure them of my prayers for the eternal repose of the souls of the dead, and for all those afflicted in their time of grief, in the hope of their speedy and complete recovery.

On this day, in which the Church is entrusted to the intercession of St James, the celestial patron of Spain and witness to the Risen Christ, I wish to express my support to all the sons of this noble land, and impart a heartfelt apostolic blessing, bearer of the hope that comes from faith and the consolation offered by authentic love.

Source: VIS