Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a telegram on behalf of the Holy Father to Archbishop Francesco Cacucci of Bari-Bitonto, following a collision between two trains travelling on a single line in the province of Bari (in the Apulia region of southern Italy), in which 27 people lost their lives and more than 50 were injured. The wreck happened Tuesday at about 11:30 am, local time.
Pope Francis expresses his heartfelt participation in the suffering of the many families affected, assuring them of his fervent prayers for the souls of those who died tragically, the telegram said. While invoking the Lord for a rapid recovery for the injured, he entrusts to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary those who have been afflicted by this dramatic event and imparts the comfort of his apostolic blessing.
The two trains were traveling at high speeds and crashed into each other head-on. Both trains had four carriages, some of which were entirely destroyed.
