Pope Francis has offered condolences to the families who lost a loved one when a Spanish fishing boat sank off the coast of Canada. The telegram to the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, Julian Barrio Barrio, was signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
On 15 February, the Spanish fishing boat “Villa de Pitanxo” sank with 24 people on board, only three of them survived. Rescue teams managed to retrieve nine lifeless bodies, while the search for twelve missing people had to be postponed due to dangerous sea conditions. Francis said in the Telegram that he wanted to express his “heartfelt condolences” to the relatives in the wake of the “tragic news”, in which he expressed “their solidarity in these moments of agony”.
He prays for the victims and “wants to express his affection to the families who mourn the loss of their loved ones”. Finally, he commends “those affected by this disaster” for God’s mercy and “maternal care”. He gives his blessing “as a pledge of the constant help of the Most High and as a sign of certain hope in the resurrection”.
(Vatican News – CS)
