Vatican City: One month after the devastating fire that struck the ski resort town of Crans-Montana in Switzerland, claiming at least 40 lives and leaving over 120 injured, Pope Leo XIV has reached out with words of comfort and spiritual support to those still grieving the tragedy. In a message marking the one-month commemoration, the Holy Father reassured victims and their families that in Christ, suffering is never final and that brighter days will come when joy and the presence of lost loved ones will once again touch their hearts.
“I wish to express my closeness and affection to all of you, along with that of the entire Church,” Pope Leo wrote, emphasizing that through its maternal presence, the Church desires to share the burden of grief as fully as possible. “We pray to the Lord Jesus to sustain your faith in this trial,” he added, offering spiritual encouragement to those enduring the long shadow of the calamity.
The tragedy occurred on January 1, when a fire and explosion broke out at a bar during a crowded New Year’s celebration in Crans-Montana. On January 15, Pope Leo met in the Vatican with family members of those killed or injured, listening to their sorrow and offering personal consolation. In his latest message, he highlighted the role of priests and Christian communities as sources of “fraternal and spiritual support” to help the bereaved navigate their grief and find courage amidst despair.
Acknowledging the deep pain, incomprehension, and sense of abandonment that the victims and families feel, Pope Leo entrusted them to the care of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows. “She holds you close to her heart and invites you to look upon the Cross, where her Son suffered and gave His life,” the Pope wrote. He reminded them that Christ shares in their suffering today but will also share with them “His glorious and blessed Resurrection,” affirming the promise of ultimate reunion and renewal.
“Jesus truly is risen!” the Pope declared, emphasizing that the Church proclaims this certainty with both serenity and assurance. He urged the grieving to maintain hope that one day they will see again those they have lost, and that joy, even on earth, can return to their hearts despite the weight of sorrow.
Drawing inspiration from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Pope Leo reminded victims that “neither death nor life, neither the present nor the future, neither trials nor separation, nor suffering, can separate you and your loved ones from the love of God which is in Christ.”
He reassured them that “nothing of the beautiful and happy moments you shared with your loved ones is lost forever; nothing is over.” Even in moments of grief, he emphasized, the Blessed Mother invites the faithful to look toward Heaven, radiant with hope. “By firmly grasping the anchor of hope that is securely fixed there and which Jesus offers you,” the Pope wrote, “you will receive the strength and courage to persevere and continue on your journey.”
Pope Leo XIV’s message serves as a poignant reminder that even in the aftermath of catastrophic loss, faith, hope, and the promise of spiritual reunion provide solace and resilience for those whose lives have been touched by tragedy.