Message of Compassion and Condolences for the Victims of the Accident in Spain

Bucharest, 25 July 2013

His Eminence
Cardinal ANTONIO MARIA ROUCO VARELA,
Archbishop of Madrid,
President of the Spanish Episcopal Catholic Conference

Your Eminence,

We learned with sorrow about the dramatic consequences of the tragic railway accident occurred in Santiago de Compostella in the evening of 24 July 2013, in which tens of Spanish citizens died and more than 140 persons were injured.

At this time of suffering for many Spanish families, on behalf of the clergy and faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Church, we express our compassion and solidarity with all those who are going through this pain and pray God to rest the souls of those who lost their lives and comfort those who suffer.

As a sign of solidarity with the Spanish people, who is in so much suffering these days, on Sunday, 28 July 2013, prayers for the resting in peace of the souls of those who passed away will be raised in the churches and monasteries of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal.

 We express our confidence that, at this sad time in the life of the Spanish people, the faith in God and solidarity among people are essential, and assure you of our deep esteem and fraternal feelings in Christ, our Lord.

† DANIEL
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church