VATICAN - The Holy Father's condolences and prayers for the victims of the accident at the railway station of Viareggio (Italy) and the air crash off the coast of the Comoros.

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI sent telegrammes of condolence and closeness, through the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, for the victims of the accident at the railway station of Viareggio (Italy) and the air crash off the Comoros in the Indian Ocean.
In the telegramme to the Archbishop of Lucca, Mgr. Benvenuto Italo Castellani, the Holy Father expresses “profound participation in the grief which has struck the whole city and while assuring fervent prayers for the souls of those who died so tragically, he invokes from the Lord swift recovery for the injured ”. The Pontiff entrusts to the maternal protection of Our Lady all those affected by the dramatic event and imparts the comfort of a special Apostolic Blessing.
To the Apostolic Nuncio in Kuwait, Archbishop Mounged El-Hachem, the Pope expresses “ sincere condolences to the grieving families, commends the dead to the Divine Mercy and prays to God for all those profoundly affected by this tragedy ”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/7/2009, righe 13, parole 163)