VATICAN - The Pope sends telegramme of sympathy for the death of two Italian soldiers killed in Kabul in an attack

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, through Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, addressed the following message of sympathy to Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco, military ordinary for Italy, regarding the attack on May 5 in Kabul, Afghanistan, in which two Italian soldiers lost their lives. The military ordinary read out the Pope's telegram at the beginning of the funeral Mass, held this morning in the Roman Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels.
"Having learned the news of the ignoble attack on the Italian convoy in Kabul which caused the death of two soldiers of the Alpine Regiment, the Supreme Pontiff wishes to communicate to parents and relatives an expression of his personal participation in their profound suffering and to convey his heartfelt condolences for the grave mourning which has once again struck the entire nation of Italy and especially the armed forces committed to upholding with generous self-sacrifice actions of peace among sorely tried peoples. In giving assurances of his fervent prayers that the Lord may welcome to eternal life the young victims who sacrificed their own lives, His Holiness invokes heavenly comfort upon those mourning their dramatic death and sends out his apostolic blessing with a special thought for the soldiers wounded in the attack. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary di State”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 9/5/2006 righe 13, parole 176)