Pope mourns victims of plane crash in Nepal

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Pope Francis, the religious leader of world Catholics, expressed his condolence and offered his prayers for victims of the plane crash in Nepal.

In a Yeti Airlines plane crash in Nepal’s tourist town of Pokhara, as Vatican reported, on Sunday, the current week, seventy people were killed.

In a telegram signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and sent Monday to the President of Nepal, Bidya Devi Bhandari, the Pope joined in mourning those killed.

On Sunday morning, Yeti Airlines ATR72 aircraft from Kathmandu crashed as it approached the new airport serving the tourist town of Pokhara in northern Nepal.

This marks the Himalayan nation’s deadliest plane accident in three decades.

According to a Yeti Airlines spokesperson, there were four crew members aboard, and several foreign nationals among the passengers.

The foreigners included five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, and one each from Ireland, Australia, Argentina and France.

In his telegram, Pope Francis reassured the people of Nepal of his prayers for those affected and involved in recovery efforts, and commended the souls of the deceased to the mercy of Almighty God.

The Pope concluded by invoking the divine blessings of healing and peace upon those who mourn.

Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains including Mount Everest.

The city of Pokhara is popular with tourists as the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit hiking trail.