Pope Pope Leo XIV has expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic train accident that occurred on Wednesday, October 28, in Urda, province of Toledo, which has left numerous fatalities and injuries. The Pontiff has sent a telegram of condolences to the Archbishop of Toledo, Monsignor Francisco Cerro Chaves, in which he assures his prayers for the deceased and conveys his closeness to the affected families.
The message, published this Thursday by the Holy See Press Office, is signed on behalf of the Holy Father by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State.
Leo XIV offers suffrages for the victims of the train accident
In the telegram, the Pope declares himself «deeply saddened» upon learning of the news of the train accident and offers «suffrages for the eternal rest of the deceased.»
The Pontiff also extends his «heartfelt condolences» to the families of the deceased, accompanied by expressions of consolation and his wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.
Leo XIV also wished to address words to the professionals participating in the emergency efforts, whom he encourages «to persevere in the work of rescue and assistance.»
The message concludes with the apostolic blessing of the Holy Father, imparted to all those affected «as a sign of hope in the Risen Lord.»
The Spanish Church accompanies the victims of the tragedy
Pope Leo XIV’s message adds to the expressions of closeness shown by the Spanish Church since the train accident occurred in Urda.
The Spanish Episcopal Conference called for prayers for the victims this Wednesday, entrusting the deceased and their families to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, «Comforter of the Afflicted and Queen of Peace.»
For his part, the Archbishop of Toledo, Monsignor Francisco Cerro Chaves, traveled to personally accompany those affected. «We are with them, we pray and they feel our closeness and our solidarity,» declared the prelate, who acknowledged the profound suffering of the families.
The Church’s assistance was also present at the scene of the accident. Several priests from the archdiocese went to the tracks to provide spiritual care to the victims, while local parishes opened their doors and Diocesan Caritas made itself available to the families.
This Thursday, the churches of the Archdiocese of Toledo have been called to toll the bells for the dead at noon and to pray the Angelus for the eternal rest of the deceased.
Below, we reproduce the official text of the telegram sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, on behalf of Pope Leo XIV:
HIS EXCELLENCY MOST REVEREND
MONS. FRANCISCO CERRO CHAVES
ARCHBISHOP OF TOLEDO
POPE LEO XIV, DEEPLY SADDENED UPON LEARNING OF THE PAINFUL NEWS OF THE TRAGIC TRAIN ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN THE TOWN OF URDA, TOLEDO, WHICH HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS VICTIMS AND INJURED, OFFERS SUFFRAGES FOR THE ETERNAL REST OF THE DECEASED.
LIKEWISE, THE HOLY FATHER EXTENDS HIS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE DECEASED, ALONG WITH HIS EXPRESSIONS OF CONSOLATION, DEEP CONCERN, AND WISHES FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY OF THE INJURED. HIS HOLINESS, WHILE ENCOURAGING THE MEMBERS OF THE RESCUE TEAMS TO PERSEVERE IN THE WORK OF RESCUE AND ASSISTANCE, IMPARTS TO ALL FROM HIS HEART THE COMFORTING APOSTOLIC BLESSING, AS A SIGN OF HOPE IN THE RISEN LORD.
CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE