Pope Francis prays for victims, families of Canada train derailment

(Vatican Radio) Authorities in the severely damaged Quebec town of Lac-Megantic said some residents could start returning home on Tuesday, after a runaway train derailed and exploded early Saturday, killing up to 50 people. Dozens are still unaccounted for. In a message to the People of Lac-Mégantic, signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Pope Francis offers his sympathy and prayers for the victims, their families and rescue workers.

Below we publish his message to the People of Lac-Mégantic :

"Upon learning of the tragic train derailment at Lac-Mégantic, with its many victims of whom a large number is still unaccounted for, His Holiness Pope Francis unites himself through prayer in the anguish of the grieving families, and he entrusts the victims to the mercy of God, asking Him to welcome them into His light. He expresses his deep sympathy to the injured persons and their families, to the emergency workers, and to all the people around them, asking the Lord to support and comfort them in their hardship. As a token of consolation, the Holy Father sends a special apostolic blessing to all persons touched by this tragedy. "