VATICAN CITY, FEB. 17, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is assuring his prayers for the eternal repose of the hundreds of victims who died in a prison fire Wednesday in Honduras.
In a telegram to the bishop of Comayagua, Honduras, where the prison is located, the Pope’s secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said the Holy Father was «deeply saddened by the painful news» and that he «raises fervent prayers to the Almighty for the eternal repose of the dead.»
«At the same time, I ask Your Excellency to communicate the Pope’s deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, accompanied by assurances of his spiritual closeness and his hope that those injured in this lamentable incident will make a speedy and complete recovery,» the telegram continued.
The cause of the fire is still uncertain, but the tragedy is a further reminder of the state of Honduras’ prison system. The nation’s jails are housing as many as twice the number of prisoners they were designed for. The overcrowding is due in part to the often-long wait for a trial.
