Pope Benedict XVI Mourns Victims of Crash in Madrid

(August 22, 2008) Pope Benedict XVI sent a telegram expressing his condolences to the victims of Wednesday's plane crash in Spain that cost 153 lives. In a telegram Thursday, the Pope sent his condolences to the victims of the accident in Madrid's Barajas airport. The Spanish government said only 19 of the 166 passengers and six crew members survived the MD-82 jet crash. In the telegram directed to the archbishop of Madrid and president of the Spanish Episcopal conference, Cardinal Antonio María Rouco, and signed by the Pope's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Holy Father said he was "deeply saddened" by the tragedy. Cardinal Bertone asked Cardinal Rouco to transmit the "profound sorrow of His Holiness to the families of those who died, together with the assurance of his spiritual closeness, deep concern and hope for a prompt and complete recovery of the wounded in this unfortunate accident." The Pope imparts "from his heart the comforting apostolic blessing, as a sign of solace and hope in the risen Lord," the message concluded. In a statement Wednesday from the Spanish Episcopal conference, the prelates said they "profoundly lament the accident that occurred this afternoon in Barajas airport, and pray to the Lord of Life for the eternal repose of the numerous mortal victims, as well as for the recovery of the wounded." The Community and Municipality of Madrid declared three days of official mourning.