EUROPE/SPAIN - 5th World Meeting of Families WMF - Valencia, three days of mourning for metro accident victims, Pope’s message of sympathy, WMF Theological-Pastoral Congress opens today

Tuesday, 4 July 2006

Valencia (Agenzia Fides) - The Archbishop of Valencia Agustín García-Gasco has asked parishes and all churches to observe the official three days mourning declared yesterday, following the tragic underground rail accident in which 41 were killed and 47 injured, two in critical conditions. Officials say the crash may have been caused by high speed or a collapsing train wheel.
The organisers of the 5th World Meeting of Families WMF taking place in Valencia until Sunday expressed their condolence with the families of the dead and the injured and suspended festive activities planned for the next three days, while other events will go ahead.
As a mark of sympathy with the families a thousand WFM volunteers took part in a special Mass offered for the repose of the souls of the dead and recitation of the Rosary Prayer at the ‘Basilica de los Desamparados’ in the presence of auxiliaries of Valencia, Bishop Salvador Jiménez and Bishop Enrique Benavent. The latter told the volunteers that “as Christians it is important to share moments of joy and also of sorrow around the Eucharist, source of faith and hope”.
Messages of sympathy continue to arrive in Valencia from many religious, political and social bodies. Pope Benedict XVI sent a telegramme addressed to Archbishop Agustín García-Gasco: "Deeply saddened by the news of the metro accident in Valencia which caused many families to grieve, I ask the Lord to comfort those who weep the loss of their loved ones. I ask you to transmit my sincere sympathy to the families of the dead and my paternal spiritual closeness to all the many injured and I impart my Apostolic Blessed as a sign of faith and hope in the Risen Christ".
In a message of sympathy addressed to the Archbishop of Valencia on behalf of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, the president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference Bishop Ricardo Blázquez, and secretary general Fr Juan Antonio Martínez Camino said the tragic news came just as they were all preparing to go to Valencia for the 5th World Meeting of Families WMF with the Pope. “Although we will express our sympathy in person we wish to express our condolences now. We ask you to assure the families of the dead that we are united with their grief and we pray the Lord will grant eternal rest to their loved ones. We also pray for the swift recovery of the injured."
Despite the tragedy activities went ahead to prepare the Family Fair and the Family Congress. The volunteers have already welcomed numerous visitors and authorities. In the Family Fair area the stands are ready to present all kinds of realities and activities to support the family all over the world. The customary WMF Theological-Pastoral Congress starts today 4 July. Participants include 30 cardinals, numerous bishops, representatives of Greek, Russian and Rumanian Orthodox Churches, experts from all over the world. The evening session will include a conferences on: "Family and Laicism" by Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, Archbishop of Bologna, Italy and "The family and the primate of the faith in a hostage world" by the dean of the faculty of theology of the University of Lyons Javier Lacroix. The session will conclude with the opening conference by Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family. Reports and panel discussions will examine the role of the family from the social, educational, legislative, demographic, economic and bio-ethic point of view. (JO/RG) (Agenzia Fides 4/7/2006 righe 50 parole 667)
In Italian Dossier Fides on the World Meeting of Families
www.fides.org


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