Given
below is the text of a telegram of condolences sent in the Holy
Father's name by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. to
the bishop of Cayenne, in response to news of a serious road accident
yesterday near Kourou, French Guiana, involving a bus carrying pilgrims
to next week's World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The accident
caused one death, and left five other victims seriously injured.
“Pope Francis, informed of the tragic road accident on the road to
Saint Laurent du Maroni involving a bus carrying young people
participating in World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, wishes to express
his heartfelt participation in the mourning of the families of the
deceased, and of the group leaders and organisers.
The Pope assures them
of his prayers and expresses his deepest sympathy with those injured,
the rescue workers and all those around them.
The Holy Father wishes to
impart the comfort of an apostolic blessing on all those touched by this
tragedy”.