TO HIS EXCELLENCY HON. DMITRIJ ANATOLEVICH MEDVEDEV PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION HAVING LEARNED THE TRAGIC NEWS OF THE ATTACK IN MOSCOW'S DOMEDEDOVO AIRPORT, IN WHICH MANY PERSONS LOST THEIR LIVEE, HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI EXPRESSES HIS PROFOUND SORROW AND FIRM RENUNCIATION OF THE GRAVE ACT OF VIOLENCE, AND WISHES TO EXTEND HIS SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS AND SINCERE CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS. THE SUPREME PONTIFF ASSURES HIS FERVENT PRAYERS FOR THE SOULS OF THE DEPARTED, AND AS HE INVOKES THE LORD FOR HEAVENLY COMFORT TO THOSE WHO MOURN THEIR LOSS, HE ALSO SENDS HIS BLESSINGS AND HIS THOUGHTS FOR THOSE WHO WERE INJURED. I TOO JOIN IN THE SORROW OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND EXTEND MY MOST SINCERE OBSEQUIES. CARDINAL TARCISIO BERTONE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HIS HOLINESS