Pope Expresses Sadness for Astronauts

February 3, 2003

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II expressed his sadness at the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia and asked for prayers for the seven astronauts who died in the accident.

The pope was informed of the tragedy shortly after news agencies reported Feb. 1 that the space shuttle had broken up on re-entering Earth's atmosphere over Texas. Aides said he received the news with "extreme sadness" and prayed for all those touched by the disaster. Speaking to several thousand people at a noon blessing the following day, the pope expressed his spiritual closeness to the families and friends of those killed. "The sad news of the tragic explosion of the U.S. space shuttle Columbia has stirred deep emotions in everyone. I ask everyone to pray for the victims, who died while fulfilling an international scientific mission," he said.

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reprinted from Catholic News Service, 2/4/2003