«I wish to express my closeness to the dear Galician people, who live moments of uncertainty given the grave catastrophe that has affected their coasts and endangers the abnegated work of seamen and the progress of the community,» the Pope said today after praying the Angelus with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
«While I encourage all to commit themselves with determination to this difficult problem, I also pray to God that pertinent solutions will soon be found, so that Galicia will see its future with renewed hope,» he added, speaking in Spanish from the window of his study.
Oil spillage from the Prestige began around Nov. 13. The single hull ship split in half and sank two days later. The Spanish government said 17,000 of the 77,000 tons of combustible diesel the ship was carrying have spilled. Ecologist groups estimate the spillage at 20,000 tons. The rest is trapped in the tanker at the bottom of the sea.
