Pope prays for Polish Medjugorje pilgrims killed in bus crash

St James, Medjugorje

Source: Vatican News, BBC

Twelve Polish pilgrims travelling to Medjugorje were killed and 32 were injured, after their bus veered off a road in Croatia on Saturday. Croatian officials said the passengers, including three priests and six nuns.

"Some of the injured passengers are fighting for their lives," Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said.

Addressing pilgrims in St Peter's Square after the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis said: "I learned with sorrow the news of the bus crash yesterday morning in Croatia. Several Polish pilgrims on their way to Medjugorje lost their lives and others were injured. May Our Lady intercede for them and their families."

On Saturday, Croatia's prime minister expressed his sorrow for the deaths of the Polish pilgrims who died after their bus veered off the A4 road between the Croatian villages of Jarek Bisaski and Podvorec, northeast of Zagreb, the capital. The bus ended up in a roadside ditch.

Poland's justice minister and prosecutor general have ordered the Warsaw Prosecutors Office to investigate the cause of the crash.

The trip was organised by the Brotherhood of St Joseph Catholic group.

The bus had left from the Polish Marian shrine of Czestochowa on Friday night following a prayer service. The passengers were all adults, and were from various regions of Poland, the foreign ministry said.