Pope’s condolence messages for train, plane tragedies

(July,01,2009): Pope Benedict XVI expressed his condolences for victims of two tragedies: a train explosion that claimed 12 lives in Italy, and a plane crash of Yemeni Airways over the Indian Ocean involving 153 passengers. The Pope sent a telegram to the people of Viareggio, in Northern Italy, where a freight train carrying gas was derailed and exploded in the town Monday night. Fires broke out and homes collapsed due to the explosion, killing at least 12 people, and injuring some 50 others. Rescuers are still searching for missing villagers. The Pontiff's message expressing his prayers for the victims and his heartfelt participation in the suffering afflicting the entire city, was sent by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone to Archbishop Benvenuto Italo Castellani of Lucca.
The Holy Father sent another telegram through Cardinal Bertone to Archbishop Paul-Mounged El-Hachem, apostolic nuncio to Kuwait, as well as Yemen and several other Arab nations, expressing sorrow for the crash of a Yemeni plane carrying 153 passengers.
The plane was attempting to land early Monday morning in the Comoros, a group of islands between Africa and Madagascar, when it crashed into the Indian Ocean. The Pope expressed condolences and prayers for families of the victims and entrusted the deceased to God's mercy.