VATICAN CITY, July 23 (AFP) - Pope John Paul II Friday sent his condolences to the Turkish people and government after 36 people were killed in a train accident.
"Having learnt about the train accident between Istanbul and Ankara, the Holy Father voices his sympathy and his spiritual closeness with the families affected by this tragedy," said the message sent to the pope's representative in the Turkish capital Edmond Farhat.
The message also said the pope was praying for the injured and their families as well as all those who took part in the rescue operation.
A train linking Istanbul to Ankara derailed Thursday evening near the northwestern town of Pamukova, its five carriages overturning and crashing into each other in one of the country's worst rail disasters. Eighty-one people were injured.
The express link had been inaugurated by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month amid much fanfare despite warnings that the decade-old tracks could not handle high-speed trains.