Pope expresses condolences for Valencia, Spain, subway crash victims

Published: 2006-07-05

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Days before Pope Benedict XVI was set to arrive in Valencia, Spain, a tragic subway wreck cast a dark shadow over the Mediterranean city. In a telegram sent to Archbishop Agustin Garcia-Gasco Vicente of Valencia, the pope immediately expressed his condolences and said his prayers were with all the victims and their families. Some 41 people died and approximately another 50 were injured, several seriously, when two subway cars overturned after smashing against the tunnel walls July 3 in what became one of Spain's worst subway accidents. The pope wrote that he received with "profound regret" the news of the accident which "has filled so many families with grief." A copy of the telegram was released by the Vatican July 4.

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