Pope condoles with families
of Air France crash victims
Translated from
the French service of
Pope Benedict XVI has expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in the Air France disaster over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil Monday morning.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone conveyed this in a telegram to the Apostolic Nuncio in Paris, Mons. Fortunato Baldelli, who earlier today was named by the Pope to be the new Major Penitentiary, succeeding US Cardinal James Stafford who has reached canonical retirement age.
Here is a translation from the French:
Informed about the catastrophe that befell a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, the Holy Father expresses his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and assures his profound sympathy and spiritual closeness to all who have been affected by this tragedy.
He entrusts the departed to divine mercy, asking the Almighty to welcome them to his peace and light. While asking God to grant support and comfort to all those who are severely tried by this event, and with the wish that they may find the assistance they need in this sorrowful time from those around them, the Pope grants his
Apostolic Blessing to all the persons affected by this tragedy.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone
Secretary of State to His Holiness
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 03/06/2009 03:22]