(March 5, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI has (also) expressed his "profound sympathy" to
the families of the more than 50 people who died as a result of the storm named Xynthia,
which brought flooding to the coastline of southwestern France on Sunday. The Pope
sent his condolences in a message to Bishop Bernard Housset of La Rochelle-Saintes.
The Holy Father's message was read at the end of a Mass celebrated on Wednesday in
La Rochelle's Cathedral of St. Louis. The Holy Father said that he "commends the
deceased to the mercy of God and prays that genuine solidarity will allow persons
affected by this tragedy, especially those who have lost everything, to find the support
and assistance they need." The Pontiff invoked "abundance of divine blessings for
all persons sorely tried."