VATICAN CITY, MARCH 12, 2019 (CISA)-Pope Francis has expressed closeness to the families and friends of the March 10 Ethiopian Airlines plane crash victims, and offered prayers for the deceased.
“Having learned with sadness of the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash, His Holiness Pope Francis offers prayers for the deceased form various countries and commends their souls to the mercy of the almighty God,” read a March 11 statement signed on behalf of the Pope by Cardinal Pietro Parolin,the Secretary of Vatican state.
“Pope Francis sends heartfelt condolences to their families and upon all who mourn this tragic loss he invokes the divine blessings of consolation and strength,” the statement read.
Among those who perished in the crash were a Kenyan priest,Fr George Mukua Kageche of the missionaries of Marianhill, and a Kenyan nun, Sr Florence Wangari of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Angels,and four staff members of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
The Nairobi bound Boeing 737, crashed near Bishoftu in Ethiopia, a few minutes after take off from Addis Ababa, killing all the 157 people on board.
Fr Mukua was working in Rome while Sr Florence was serving in DRC Congo. The four members of the CRS staff were travelling to Nairobi to take part in training.
