Pope Francis expressed his “closeness” and “grief” following the death of at least 140 people in the sinking of a boat of migrants off the north-western coast of Senegal.

Only some sixty people were rescued of the 200 passengers, deplored the International Organization of Migrants (IOM) on November 5, 2020.

In a message addressed to the Bishop of the diocese of Saint Louis, Monsignor Ernest Sambou, the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin assured him that Pope Francis “associates himself to the families’ mourning, expressing to them his closeness and grief.”

“The Holy Father prays for the repose of the deceased persons, entrusting them to the mercy of God. He also implores for the Lord’s consolation for all those touched by this tragedy,” adds the telegram reported by the Senegalese agency samarew.com.

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