VATICAN CITY, JULY 26 (ZENIT.org)

    In a telegram addressed to Archbishop Louis-Marie Bille, president of the French Episcopal Conference,John Paul II expressed his profound sorrow after hearing the news of yesterday's air disaster in Paris.

    In his message, signed by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican Secretary of State, the Holy Father expressed his closeness to all persons suffering as a result of the terrible accident.

    "The Holy Father is joined in prayer to the suffering of the relatives, mainly French and German, who have lost a loved one. He expresses his heartfelt sympathy to them, and profound concern and closeness with all those who have been touched by this drama, particularly, the relatives and friends of the deceased persons, members of the personnel of the airline company, and all the rescuers. He entrusts the dead to the mercy of God, so that they may enjoy eternal rest in the peace of his Kingdom."

    "He prays for the relatives of the deceased, so that they will have courage and find the support and assistance they will need to overcome this painful trial." John Paul II sent his heartfelt apostolic blessing to all the persons stricken by the tragedy.

    Rescue teams have already recovered the black boxes of the Air France Concorde that crashed yesterday, two minutes after takeoff from Charles de Gaulle Airport. The recordings will help identify the causes of the tragedy, which resulted in the death of 113 persons: 96 Germans, two Danes, one American, one Austrian, and 4 persons on the ground who were killed by the crashing plane.

    Led by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, the German federal government met this morning to remember the victims of the catastrophe in a religious service celebrated by Catholic Bishop Josef Homeyer of Hildesheim. ZE00072606

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