A SPECIAL Requiem Mass " for the victims was sung on Wednesday in St. Peter's by Mgr. Leger. Archbishop of Montreal, in the presence of many Cardinals and Bishops and of the entire Vatican Diplomatic Corps.
Cardinal Tedeschini, Archpriest of St. Peter's assisted Mgr. Leger at the altar. It was the first Requiem for air crash victims ever to be offered in the Basilica.
It is also the first big tragedy of the Holy Year and the first time a group of pilgrims have lost their lives while returning from Rome.
Two hundred pilgrims from Montreal were received in special audience for the second time by the Holy Father, immediately after the Requiem Mass.
In a voice shaking with emotion. the Pope expressed his sorrow at the tragedy. spoke of his paternal share in the disaster and invited the pilgrims to pray with him for the repose of the souls of the victims.