(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a message of condolences for all those killed
and injured in Wednesday’s train crash close to the Spanish shrine of Santiago de
Compostela. In the telegramme sent to the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, Julian
Barrio, the Pope expresses his intense sorrow and his spiritual closeness to all those
suffering as a result of the tragedy. As the Church marks the feast of St James the
Apostle, Spain’s patron saint, Pope Francis sent his Apostolic blessing and said he
raised a fervent prayer to the Lord for all the victims of this tragic event. At
least 78 people have died and over 140 others were injured after the passenger train
derailed and rolled over against a wall, causing one of the worst rail accidents in
Spanish history.