Pope Leo XIV ‘deeply saddened’ by London-bound plane crash in India

The tail sectio of the Air India plane following its crash, in Ahmedabad, India, on June 12. Photo: OSV News/CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE VIA X/Handout via Reuters

VATICAN (SE): Pope Leo XIV expressed his condolences and and offered prayers for the victims of a London-bound Air India flight that crashed after taking off from Ahmedabad, India, into a residential area near the airport, reportedly into the state-run B.J. Medical College hostel, a residence for doctors. Over 240 people were killed.

In a telegramme signed by Vatican secretary of state, Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo said he was “deeply saddened by the tragedy involving an Air India aircraft near Ahmedabad.” The pope assured everyone affected of his prayers for those involved in the recovery efforts, and commended the souls of the deceased to “the mercy of the Almighty.”