VATICAN CITY, MARCH 7, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI has expressed his condolences to the people of Congo after a series of explosions at an arms depot resulted in the deaths of more than 200 people.
The Pope sent a telegram through his secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, to Archbishop Louis Portella-Mbuyu, president of the Episcopal Conference of Congo.
Having been informed of this “tragic catastrophe” the Holy Father expresses his profound condolence to the families and friends of the victims, and asks the Lord to welcome the deceased into His peace and light. The Pope also expresses his thanks for the efforts of rescue workers and appeals to God to bring “consolation and hope” to the injured and to everyone affected by this dramatic event.
A fire broke out Sunday in the storage building, causing the series of explosions that left a square mile of Brazzaville in ruins. The death toll is expected to rise; no coordinated rescue efforts are under way because the area is deemed unsafe. Unexploded arms from the depot were scattered by the explosions and are considered a serious public threat.
