Santiago, Chile, Oct 13, 2010 / 10:13 am
Pope Benedict XVI gave thanks for the initial success of efforts to free the first of 33 Chilean copper miners who have been trapped beneath the earth for the more than two months.
At his weekly general audience, Oct. 13, the Pope said that “with hope" he continues to commend the miners to the "divine goodness" of Christ.
The miners have been trapped under a half-mile of rock deep beneath Chile's Atacama Desert since the mine shaft collapsed Aug. 5. Rescue workers originally projected that the miners would be free in late December.
The first of the miners was brought to the surface on Oct. 13 and rescue officials now say it is possible that all will be free within a day.