Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Nichols and other church leaders pray for victims of Air India plane crash – The Tablet

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the only survivor, British passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40
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Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols has offered prayers for the 241 victims who were passengers and crew in the Air India plane that crashed in a fireball in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, killing everyone on board except for one British passenger.
Pope Leo XIV also prayed for the victims. All church leaders also included in their prayers the many on the ground who were killed and injured when the plane ploughed through buildings and into a hostel that housed medical school students and their families. At least eight people on the ground were killed, including four medical students, and as many as 50 people, possibly more, injured.
“I pray for all of the victims of the tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad, as well as their families and loved ones who will come from across the UK and India. I commend also the response of the local emergency services and all who are providing support to those affected,” said Cardinal Nichols.
Pope Leo, in a telegram signed by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said he was “deeply saddened by the tragedy involving an Air India aircraft near Ahmedabad”. Pope Leo assured everyone affected of his prayers for those involved in the recovery efforts, and commended the souls of the deceased to “the mercy of the Almighty”.
Bishop of Clifton Bosco MacDonald made particular reference to the impact on communities in his diocese.
“It is with great sorrow that I learned of the devastating crash involving Air India flight AI218 earlier today. The loss of life, the fear and anguish experienced by survivors, and the uncertainty facing families who still await news of their loved ones weigh heavily on us all.
“In a special way, my heart and prayers go out to the families in our own diocese who have been affected. The news that three members of the Gloucester community – Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa, and their daughter Sara – are believed to have been on board brings this global tragedy very close to home. I join the Gloucester Muslim Society in their grief and in offering our deepest condolences to all who mourn.
“In this moment of pain, we turn to the God who is close to the broken-hearted. Whether in Gloucester or elsewhere, every life lost or forever changed by this tragedy matters to God – and to us. May the families of all the victims be comforted with compassion, surrounded by solidarity, and upheld in prayer by people of every faith and goodwill.
“I ask the Catholic communities across the Diocese of Clifton to pray this weekend for all those who have died, those who are injured, and for the many families – especially in Gloucester – left in shock and sorrow. May the light of Christ shine in this time of darkness.”
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India expressed “deep sorrow and solidarity” with the victims. “Our prayers are with them in this hour of immense grief and loss,” the bishops said in a statement. They also offered prayers for the speedy and full recovery of those injured in the crash and acknowledged the ongoing efforts of rescue personnel at the site.
“Let us pray for the eternal rest of those who have died, for comfort to the bereaved, and for strength and healing for the injured,” they said and appealed for the nation to turn to God as “a source of hope and consolation” in the face of such tragedy.
Archbishop Thomas Macwan of Gandhinagar, based in the state capital, told UCA News, “The entire Catholic Community of Gujarat is aghast.” He said he was in his office, about 20 kilometres away from the crash site, when the news came in. “My heart was crying.” 
He said five to six Indian Christians, including a recently married Christian couple from a village in the Ahmedabad diocese, had died in the crash.
The Church of England issued a prayer and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said: “It is terrifying, and heart-breaking, to hear the news of the plane crash in Ahmedabad. Carrying 242 people, including many UK nationals, the plane crashed into a residential area. My prayers are with all the victims who were on the plane, those on the ground, and all those who are going through the unimaginable suffering of losing loved ones so unexpectedly. I’m praying for everyone affected, and hoping beyond hope that more survivors will be found.”
British passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, the only survivor, sitting in seat 11A, escaped through an opening in fuselage after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed then exploded. From his hospital bed earlier today he told DD News he saw people “dying in front of my eyes” and for a moment had believed he was also about to die, before realising he was still alive, and making his escape. He said: “I can’t believe how I came out of it alive. For a moment, I felt like I was going to die too but when I opened my eyes and looked around, I realised I was alive. I still can’t believe how I survived.”
There were 242 passengers and crew on board the plane, made up of 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. There were two pilots and 10 crew members. Among those who died were 11 children and two babies.
Air India
Boeing
Plane crash
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh
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