His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expresses condolences to President of Spanish Episcopal Conference over victims of train derailment in Spain

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church sent the following message of condolences to Archbishop Antonio Maria Varela of Madrid over the train derailment near Santiago de Compostela:

 

His Eminence ANTONIO MARIA VARELA
Archbishop of Madrid
President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference

 Your Eminence:

 It was with a feeling of profound grief that I leant of the train accident near Santiago de Compostela where thousands of people used to come from every corner of Spain for commemoration day of St. James. Many people, including pilgrims, were killed or injured in the accident.

 May I express profound condolences on my own behalf and on behalf of the entire Russian Orthodox Church to the families of the victims, to Archbishop Julian Barrio Barrio of Santiago de Compostela, to Mgr Segundo Pérez, dean of the Cathedral, and to all Catholic Church of Spain.

 I offer up my prayers to the Lord asking him to rest the souls of the victims and grant courage, patience and his Almighty help to those who suffered or are grieving over their loss.

 With love in Christ,

 +KIRILL
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA