Pope’s condolences for Tanzania, Argentina tragedies

(September 16, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday sent his condolences for victims of a ferry tragedy in Tanzania and a train accident in Argentina. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent messages on the Pope’s behalf to both nations conveying his sadness. An overloaded ferry carrying more than 500 passengers capsized off the Tanzanian coast near Zanzibar at the weekend, in which some 200 are feared killed. Meanwhile, an accident between a bus and two trains on Tuesday in Argentinian capital Buenos Aires, left 11 people dead and 200 others wounded. Cardinal Bertone said the Holy Father was deeply saddened upon learning about the two tragedies and expressed his affection and spiritual closeness to the victims and their families, with promises of prayers for the repose of the dead.