Pope Leo XVI and other catholic leaders conveyed profound sorrow for the victims of Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad Gujarat Inida.
Newsroom, June 14, 2025, Gaudium Press – Pope Leo XIV conveyed profound sorrow for the victims of an Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad, India, on June 12, 2025, which claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew members. The pontiff’s condolences, relayed through a telegram by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, underscored solidarity with grieving families and prayers for recovery efforts.
Tragic Loss in Ahmedabad
The Air India flight, bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, a major city in Gujarat, India. A video circulating on social media captured the plane flying at low altitude before descending, followed by an explosion and thick plumes of smoke. Air India confirmed 242 people were aboard, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. The sole survivor, described by Bishop Athanasius Rethna Swamy of Ahmedabad as “no less than a miracle,” remains under medical attention.
Among the deceased were 11 children, two infants, and notable figures such as Gujarat’s former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Archbishop Thomas Macwan of Gandhinagar, located 20 kilometers from the crash site, expressed personal grief, noting the loss of a recently married Christian couple from his diocese, and First Officer Clive Kunder, a parishioner of Our Lady of Egypt Church Kalina in Mumbai Maharashtra.
Vatican and Global Catholic Response
In his telegram, Cardinal Parolin wrote that Pope Leo XIV was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy, commending the “souls of the deceased to the mercy of the Almighty” and offering prayers for bereaved families and rescue teams. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster, in an email to OSV News on June 12, extended condolences to families in the UK and India, praising the “response of local emergency services” in Ahmedabad.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) issued a statement on June 12, declaring the nation in “shock and mourning.” The bishops expressed solidarity with victims, their families, and rescue personnel, praying for the “speedy and complete recovery” of the injured. Bishop Swamy of Ahmedabad mourned the “heartbreaking” loss, while Archbishop Macwan, reflecting on Rupani’s death, described him as “a good man” known personally to him.
Community in Mourning
The crash has left Gujarat’s Catholic community reeling. Archbishop Macwan told UCA News that the “entire Catholic Community of Gujarat is aghast,” his heart “crying” upon hearing the news. The tragedy’s toll included five to six Indian Christians, underscoring the personal impact on local parishes. As Ahmedabad police and rescue teams continue their work, the Catholic Church in India and globally remains united in prayer and support for those affected.
Raju Hasmukh with Sources from
– Vatican News, “Pope Leo XIV Sends Condolences for Air India Crash,” June 12, 2025.
– OSV News, “Cardinal Nichols Mourns Ahmedabad Plane Crash Victims,” June 12, 2025.
– UCA News, “Indian Bishops Express Solidarity After Ahmedabad Crash,” June 12, 2025.
– Air India, Official Statement on Flight Crash, June 12, 2025.
– Ahmedabad Police, Press Release on Crash Victims, June 12, 2025.
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