Pope prays for victims and families of tragic Spanair crash in Madrid.

21-08-2008

Vatican City, Aug 21, 2008 / 12:00 pm (CNA).-
The Holy Father sent a telegram to Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela,
Archbishop of Madrid and President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference,
in which he expressed his condolences and offered prayers of support
for the victims and families of the Spanair jetliner accident which
occurred yesterday at the Barajas Airport in Madrid.

The telegram, signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, noted that Pope Benedict "offers his full support for
the eternal rest of the deceased."

The accident has reportedly taken the lives of 153 passengers, leaving another 19 injured.

"Likewise, I beg of our Lord to send the condolences of his Holiness
Benedict XVI to the families of the deceased, along with his spiritual
closeness and desire for a quick and full recovery of the injured in
this unfortunate accident," the telegram read.

Finally, Benedict XVI, "in these moments of sadness, gives us the
comfort of his Apostolic blessing, as a sign of consolation and hope in
the risen Lord."