Pope Francis sent his condolences to the victims of the Morandi bridge disaster in Genoa. On Tuesday the viaduct that crosses this city fell to the ground from a height of 90 meters causing dozens of deaths and several injuries. A tragedy that the pope lamented.
POPE FRANCIS
“While I entrust to the mercy of God the people who have lost their lives, I express my spiritual closeness to their families, the wounded, the displaced and all those who suffer because of this dramatic event.”
Francis asked the 20,000 pilgrims present at St. Peter's square to join him in praying a Hail Mary for the victims.
POPE FRANCIS
“I invite you to join me in prayer, for the victims and for their loved ones; let us recite the Ave Maria together.”
Beforehand he explained that the Virgin Mary was always united to Christ, from the Annunciation to Calvary. This is why, said Francis, God reserved a participation in the resurrection and preserved her body. The pope recalled what the feast of the Assumption meant.
POPE FRANCIS
“The wonderful reality of the Assumption of Mary manifests and confirms the unity of the human person and reminds us that we are called to serve and glorify God with all our being, soul and body.”
The pope explained that glorifying God only with the body or only through the soul goes against human nature itself. He said that serving him in body and soul yields fruit for eternity.
POPE FRANCIS
“If we live in this way, in the joyous service to God that is also expressed in a generous service to the brothers, our destiny, on the day of the resurrection, it will be similar to that of our heavenly Mother.”
Lastly, Pope Francis entrusted to the Virgin, on the feast of the Assumption, to all the people of the world who suffer in body and spirit.
