Chile’s trapped miners gift Pope a flag

(October 8, 2010) The 33 Chilean miners still trapped 700 meters below the Atacama Desert have sent a Chilean flag signed by them to Pope Benedict XVI. The memento was presented to the Pope when some 230 journalists from over 80 countries met the Holy Father on Thursday at the end of the Catholic Press Congress in Rome Oct 4-7, sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Jaime Coiro, director of communications for the Chilean bishops’ conference presented the signed flag to the Pope at the end of the audience. The miners have been trapped underground since a cave-in on Aug. 5. There is hope that the first drill to reach their refuge will break through on Saturday, and the process of hauling the miners up will begin soon thereafter. Soon after presenting the flag to the Pope, Coiro posted a message on Twitter saying, “I gave the flag to the Pope. He was very interested. He became very happy at seeing the miners' signatures. The Holy Father asked me if they would be rescued on Saturday. I told him that the rescue is expected in the next few days. "He took the flag and together with me, unfolded it, looking over the signatures. He told me that he continues to pray." Pope Benedict also remembered the trapped miners on another occasion Thursday when he welcomed Chile’s new ambassador to the Holy See, Fernando Zegers Santa Cruz. Earlier on Aug. 30, the Pope had said he was constantly praying for the trapped miners and urged them to remain calm as efforts continue to free them.