Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Feb 17, 2012 / 12:04 pm
Church leaders around the world grieved over the deaths of 355 inmates in a Honduras prison fire and urged officials to ensure that a tragedy of this kind never happens again.
Clergy members voiced solidarity with the families of the victims and called the incident “a very sad tragedy that has disturbed all our leaders and the entire country,” said Msgr. Carlo Magno Nunez, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa.
“The Church in Honduras and especially in Comayagua, is close to the families of the deceased to give them whatever assistance possible,” he told CNA on Feb. 16. “ I ask all to pray for the families of the victims, who are being helped by the Church.”
Pope Benedict also issued a statement on Feb. 17 saying he was “deeply saddened” by the event and offered his prayers and blessings to the victims and their families.