The Holy Father sent messages to Bishop Thomas V. Daily of Brooklyn and Cardinal Nicolás de Jésus López Rodríguez, archbishop of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, president of the Dominican episcopal conference. The plane was bound for the Caribbean nation.
Most of the passengers on the American Airlines Airbus A300 were Dominicans. The plane crashed just minutes after takeoff from John F. Kennedy Airport.
«Deeply saddened by news of the many victims of the airline tragedy that took place today in Queens, I commend the deceased to Almighty God´s eternal love and invoke divine strength and comfort upon their grieving families,» the Holy Father said in his message.
<br> The Pontiff said he gave his «assurance» of «prayerful closeness to the entire nation at this time of distress.»
Authorities investigating the crash in New York said early signs indicated an accident, basing their assessment partly on communications heard on the cockpit voice recorder. But they did not rule out sabotage or other causes, the Associated Press reported.
Following is the message sent Monday by the Pope to Bishop Daily. It was published by the Vatican today.
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The Most Reverend Thomas V. Daily
Bishop of Brooklyn
Deeply saddened by news of the many victims of the airline tragedy that took place today in Queens, I commend the deceased to Almighty God´s eternal love and invoke divine strength and comfort upon their grieving families. I give the assurance of my prayerful closeness to the entire nation at this time of distress.
Joannes Paulus PP. II
