The following is the telegram of condolence for the victims of the tragic accident which occurred yesterday in a building site in Florence, sent on behalf of the Holy Father Francis by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to His Eminence Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, metropolitan archbishop of Florence:

Telegram

TO HIS REVEREND EMINENCE
CARDINAL GIUSEPPE BETORI
METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP OF FLORENCE

INFORMED OF THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN THE BUILDING SITE OF A SUPERMARKET, WHICH OCCURRED YESTERDAY MORNING IN FLORENCE, CAUSING THE DEATH OF SOME WORKERS AND INJURING OTHERS, THE HOLY FATHER ASKS YOUR EMINENCE TO EXPERSS SENTIMENTS OF CLOSENESS AND CONDOLENCE TO THE RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS, ALONG WITH HIS FULLEST PARTICIPATION IN THE PAIN OF THE CITIZENRY. AT THIS PARTICULARLY DRAMATIC MOMENT, POPE FRANCIS WISHES TO REITERATE HIS APPEAL FOR SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACES, AUGURING GREATER COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING WORKERS AND, AS HE THANKS ALL THOSE WORKING IN THE RESCUE OPERATIONS, HE ASSURES HIS PATERNAL PRAYER AND SENDS TO ALL HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A SIGN OF SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE