The following are the telegrams of condolence for the victims of the earthquake that struck last night in the south of Turkey and the north of Syria, sent on behalf of the Holy Father Francis by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, to the apostolic nuncio in Turkey, Archbishop Marek Solczyński, and the apostolic nuncio in Syria, His Eminence Cardinal Mario Zenari:

Telegram

THE MOST REVEREND
MAREK SOLCZYŃSKI
APOSTOLIC NUNCIO IN TÜRKIYE

HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS WAS DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE HUGE LOSS OF LIFE CAUSED BY THE EARTHQUAKE IN THE AREA OF SOUTH-EASTERN TÜRKIYE, AND HE SENDS THE ASSURANCE OF HIS SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS TO ALL THOSE AFFECTED. ENTRUSTING THOSE WHO HAVE DIED TO THE LOVING MERCY OF THE ALMIGHTY, HE SENDS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THOSE WHO MOURN THEIR LOSS. HIS HOLINESS LIKEWISE PRAYS THAT THE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WILL BE SUSTAINED IN THEIR CARE OF THE INJURED AND IN THE ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS BY THE DIVINE GIFTS OF FORTITUDE AND PERSEVERANCE.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE

Telegram

HIS EMINENCE
CARDINAL MARIO ZENARI
APOSTOLIC NUNCIO IN SYRIA

DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF LIFE CAUSED BY THE EARTHQUAKE IN THE AREA OF NORTH-WESTERN SYRIA, HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS OFFERS HEARTFELT PRAYERS FOR THE SOULS OF THE DECEASED AND FOR ALL WHO MOURN THEM. ENTRUSTING THOSE AFFECTED BY THIS DISASTER TO THE PROVIDENCE OF THE ALMIGHTY, HE PRAYS IN PARTICULAR FOR THE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS. AS A RENEWED SIGN OF HIS SPIRITUAL SOLIDARITY, HIS HOLINESS INVOKES UPON THE LONG-SUFFERING SYRIAN PEOPLE THE DIVINE BLESSINGS OF STRENGTH AND PEACE.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE