Vatican City: Pope Francis, in a telegram sent to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, expressed deep sorrow for the tragic attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany.

The Pope condemned the incident, in which a car crashed into a crowd on Friday evening, killing at least five people—including a nine-year-old child—and injuring over 200 others.

In his message, Pope Francis conveyed his heartfelt "dismay" upon hearing the news and expressed solidarity with the families of the victims. He assured them of his spiritual closeness, sharing in their grief.

The telegram also acknowledged the efforts of those helping the victims during this difficult time, thanking them for their compassionate support. The Pope prayed for the souls of the deceased, entrusting them to Christ, and invoked divine comfort for all affected by the tragedy.