Pope Leo XIV met with relatives of Italian teenagers who died or were injured in a New Year's fire at a bar in the Swiss Alps, offering words of consolation and urging them to find hope in their darkest moments. The meeting took place on Thursday at the Vatican, where the Pope deviated from his prepared remarks to express his immediate willingness to see the families.
“I wanted at least to have the opportunity to share a moment that for you, amid so much pain and suffering, is truly a test of our faith,” he told the two dozen relatives. The Pope acknowledged that his words were “limited and powerless” but encouraged them to rely on their faith to continue courageously.
The fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana killed 40 people, mostly young revellers, and injured 116. Six of the dead and 13 of the injured were Italian citizens. The blaze is believed to have been ignited by sparkling candles that came too close to soundproofing material on the ceiling.
Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the bar owners on suspicion of involuntary homicide and causing a fire. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the disaster as an “open wound” and said Italy would join the Swiss investigation as an injured party, demanding full clarity over what he called “negligent behaviour”.
