{"id":3776,"date":"2026-01-03T12:47:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T12:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/badvibes.live\/?p=3776"},"modified":"2026-01-03T12:47:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T12:47:25","slug":"pope-leo-says-his-compassion-and-solidarity-is-with-victims-of-swiss-nightclub-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/badvibes.live\/?p=3776","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo says his \u2018compassion and solidarity\u2019 is with victims of Swiss nightclub fire"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

The pope has offered prayers for the families of victims in the\u00a0horrific New Year\u2019s Eve fire<\/a>\u00a0which has killed at least 40 people and injured more than 100 in\u00a0Switzerland<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leo<\/a>\u00a0XIV said his \u2018compassion and solidarity\u2019 was with \u2018the loved ones of the victims\u2019 of the blaze which ripped through the crowded Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana.<\/p>\n

Swiss investigators said in an update this afternoon they believe the\u00a0deadly blaze was ignited by sparklers in Champagne bottles<\/a>\u00a0being held too close to the ceiling.<\/p>\n

They told reporters their\u00a0main objective is identifying<\/a>\u00a0the 40 victims so that their families can grieve.<\/p>\n

The fire also injured 119 other revellers, many in their teens to mid-20s, who have been taken to hospitals all over the country.<\/p>\n

Late Thursday, mourners left candles and flowers in an impromptu memorial near the bar. Hundreds of others prayed for the victims at the nearby Church of Montana-Station.<\/p>\n

Pope\u00a0Leo\u00a0sent a telegram on Friday to the bishop of Sion to express his condolences.<\/p>\n

The message, sent on his behalf and signed by\u00a0the Vatican<\/a>\u2019s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said: \u2018His holiness\u00a0Pope Leo XIV<\/a>\u00a0joins in the mourning of the families and of the entire Swiss confederation.<\/p>\n

\u2018He wishes to express to the relatives of the victims his compassion and solicitude.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018He prays to the Lord to welcome the deceased into his dwelling place of peace and light.\u2019<\/p>\n

On\u00a0Instagram<\/a>, an account filled up with photos of people who remained unaccounted for, with their friends and relatives begging for tips about the whereabouts of the missing.<\/p>\n

\n
\"The<\/div>
Investigators now believe the inferno started because of champagne sparklers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"A<\/div>
A person pays tribute next to the candles placed for the victims outside the \u2018Le Constellation\u2019 bar (Picture: Reuters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"A<\/div>
The \u2018Le Constellation\u2019 bar where several dozen people died and more than 100 others were injured (Picture: Reuters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Emanuele Galeppini, a promising 17-year-old\u00a0Italian<\/a>\u00a0golfer who competed internationally, is officially listed as one of Italy\u2019s missing nationals.<\/p>\n

His uncle Sebastiano Galeppini told Italian news agency ANSA that their family is awaiting the DNA checks, though the Italian Golf Federation on its website announced that he had died.<\/p>\n

Italy\u2019s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said 13 Italian citizens were injured and six remained missing by midday Friday.<\/p>\n

Galeppini\u2019s name was on the missing persons list.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n