Pope prays for victims of shopping center blaze in Paraguay

Published: 2004-08-02

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II offered his prayers and condolences for the more than 300 people left dead after a fire in a shopping center in Asuncion, Paraguay. A telegram sent Aug. 2 on the pope's behalf by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, offered prayers for the deceased and injured. The pope also prayed "that the Lord would give comfort and spiritual serenity to those mourning the loss of their loved ones." The telegram was sent to Archbishop Eustaquio Cuquejo Verga of Asuncion. According to news reports, the Aug. 1 fire trapped hundreds of people in the multilevel Ycua Bolanos supermarket on the outskirts of Asuncion. Many survivors said that supermarket employees locked them in to prevent others from looting once the fire started. Supermarket officials denied this. Police said they are investigating the allegations. Besides the dead, about 300 people were injured, including about 70 with critical burns or breathing problems.

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