Pope Francis on May 19, 2018, offered his condolences and prayers for the victims and families of the May 18, 2018, plane crash in Cuba. More than 100 died when a jet crashed shortly after taking off from Havana’s international airport.
The Pope’s condolences came in a telegram to the Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, Dionisio Guillermo Garcia Ibanez. The telegram was signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State.
Telegram
MSGR. DIONISIO GIULLERMO GARCÍA IBÁÑEZ
ARCHBISHOP OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA
PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF CUBA
THE HOLY FATHER, DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AT JOSÉ MARTÍ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN HAVANA THAT CLAIMED MANY VICTIMS, OFFERS HIS PRAYERS FOR THE ETERNAL REPOSE OF THE DECEASED, AND EXPRESSES HIS CLOSENESS TO THE WOUNDED.
LIKEWISE, I BEG YOUR EXCELLENCY TO CONVEY HIS HOLINESS’ CONDOLENCES, ALONG WITH EXPRESSIONS OF CONSOLATION TO THE RELATIVES, WHO IN THIS HOUR OF SUFFERING MOURN THE UNEXPECTED SEPARATION FROM THEIR LOVED ONES, AT THE SAME TIME ASKING THE LORD TO POUR FORTH ON THOSE CONCERNED THE GIFTS OF SPIRITUAL SERENITY AND CHRISTIAN HOPE, AS A PLEDGE OF WHICH HE IMPARTS A HEARTFELT APOSTOLIC BLESSING.
CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE OF HIS HOLINESS
