Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has sent a telegram on behalf of Pope Francis to the Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
In the message, the Pope shares that he was “deeply saddened” upon learning of the fire in the Abu Sefein church in Giza, Egypt, which killed 35 people, including children and a bishop.
According to Egypt's minister of the interior, the fire was caused due to an electrical failure. The flames blocked the exit and those trapped inside were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning.
The President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, expressed his condolences to the victims on Twitter.
The city of Giza will celebrate a funeral for them on Sunday.
JM
