Pope Leo XIV has expressed his heartfelt condolences following the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171, which was en route from Ahmedabad, India, to London Gatwick Airport with 242 people on board on June 12.
In a telegram sent through Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Pope said he was “deeply saddened by the tragedy involving an Air India aircraft near Ahmedabad” and assured his prayers for the victims, their families, and all involved in the recovery efforts. He commended the souls of the deceased to “the mercy of the Almighty.”
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday, striking the B.J. Medical College hostel, a residential facility for doctors.
The crash resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, with smoke and debris seen billowing from the site.
According to initial reports, the passengers included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian. Among them were 217 adults, 11 children, and 2 infants.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “heartbreaking beyond words,” and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it “devastating,” expressing solidarity with all those affected.
The tragedy has shocked both nations and drawn international condolences.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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