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Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent a message of condolences to Mr. Enrico Letta, President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, over the tragic bus crash near the town of Avellino in southern Italy. The text of the message is given below:

Your Excellency,

My heart grieved when I learned about the bus crash near the town of Avellino in southern Italy. As a result of the accident, many people were killed or injured.

The tragedy is aggravated by the fact that most victims were children who were returning home from the pilgrimage to the local shrines. Great sufferings have befallen relatives and friends of those who were killed or injured. May the Lord help them to endure the sorrow.

In these mournful days, I pray for the repose of the souls of the dead and for the soonest recovery of the injured, and express my sympathy and support to you, to the relatives and friends of the dead, and to all Italian people.

May the All-Merciful Lord grant you fortitude, patience and His almighty help to overcome grave consequences of the tragedy.

With condolences,

+Hilarion

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate