Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the families of the victims of Tuesday's plane crash in the French Alps.
In a telegram the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the Pope “joins in the grief of the families” of the victims, which included many children.
The German A320 Airbus flying from Barcelona to Dusseldorf carrying 150 people came down in a remote, mountainous region. There were no survivors. Sixteen of those aboard the plane were pupils from Joseph-Koenig school in the German town of Haltern, returning from an exchange trip. A memorial Mass for the victims was held in Haltern on Tuesday and the local church remained opened all night for those wishing to mourn.
“Having learned of the tragic plane crash in the region of Digne, which caused many casualties, including many children, His Holiness Pope Francis joins in the grief of the families, expressing his closeness to them in sorrow,” the telegram stated.
“He prays for peace for the deceased, entrusting them to the mercy of God that He might welcome them into His dwelling place of peace and light. He expresses his deep sympathy for all those touched by this tragedy, as well as for the rescue workers working in difficult conditions. The Holy Father asks the Lord to give strength and consolation to all, and, as a comfort, he invokes upon them the abundance of divine Blessings.”
Photo: CNS
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