Vatican City, Mar 6, 2012 / 16:23 pm
Pope Benedict XVI heard “with sorrow” the news of a deadly head-on train collision in Poland and has expressed his condolences to the victims in a telegram to the president of the Polish bishops’ conference.
“The Holy Father assures you of his prayers for the victims of this tragic incident, and joins in the mourning of their families and of all of Poland,” said the telegram Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent on the Pope’s behalf to Archbishop Józef Michalik of Przemysl.
The Pope’s telegram invoked St. Paul’s words in 1 Thess. 4:14: “We believe… that as Jesus died and rose again, so too God will raise those who have died through Jesus together with him.”
Sixteen died and more than 50 were injured in the train collision in southern Poland just north of Krakow. The front cars of the trains were mangled in the crash, which happened on the night of March 3.