Pope’s condolence for Mexico’s day-care centre fire tragedy

(June 8, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI said he was "deeply pained" to hear of a devastating daycare fire in the northern Mexican city of Hermosillo that left at least 40 children dead. He sent his condolences to the victims' families, saying he would pray for them. Vatican secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent a condolence message on Saturday on behalf of the Holy Father to Archbishop José Ulises Macías Salcedo of Hermosillo expressing the Holy Father’s closeness to the parents of the children and hoped for the speedy recovery of those hurt in the accident. The death toll from the fire at the day-care center rose to 41 children on Sunday and a dozen more were fighting for their lives in hospitals. Hermosillo was in mourning after a blaze spread through the ABC day-care center there on Friday, killing babies and toddlers as parents and employees raced desperately to rescue them. Desperate attempts were made to evacuate all 142 children, ranging from 6 months to 5 years of age, through the building's only working exit. In his telegram, the Pope asked the bishop to communicate his condolences to those affected, "together with spiritual closeness, concern, and wishes for a speedy and total recovery of those injured in the lamentable incident."