The following is the message sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on behalf of the Holy Father to the Military Ordinary of Argentina, Msgr. Santiago Olivera, for the crew of the submarine missing in Argentine waters in the South Atlantic.

Message

MSGR. SANTIAGO OLIVERA
MILITARY ORDINARY

POPE FRANCIS ASSURES HIS FERVENT PRAYERS FOR THE 44 OFFICERS ABOARD THE ARA SAN JUAN, WHICH WENT MISSING LAST WEDNESDAY AND ASKS THAT HIS CLOSENESS BE CONVEYED TO THEIR FAMILIES AND TO THE MILITARY AND CIVIL AUTHORITIES OF THE COUNTRY IN THESE DIFFICULT MOMENTS. LIKEWISE, HE ENCOURAGES THE EFFORTS TO FIND THE VESSEL.

HIS HOLINESS ENTRUSTS THEM TO THE MATERNAL INTERCESSION OF THE MOST HOLY VIRGIN AND, BEGGING THAT THEY PRAY FOR HIM AND HIS MINISTRY IN THE SERVICE OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD, ASKS THE LORD TO FILL THEM WITH SPIRITUAL SERENITY AND CHRISTIAN HOPE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, IN WHICH HE IMPARTS TO THEM THE COMFORT OF HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE OF HIS HOLINESS