Pope Benedict XVI expressed his sorrow Wednesday and promised to pray for Daniele Paladin, an Italian soldier who was killed last weekend in Afghanistan “in the generous fulfillment of his own duty at the service of the security and the peaceful rebuilding of the Afghan peoples.”

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent a telegram condolence in the name of the Pope to Paladin’s family members, expressing his spiritual closeness to them, to all those wounded and to the entire Italian nation.

The Pope assured the family of his prayers, and offered to all those mourning his apostolic blessing.