Pope Francis has expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of 21 boys in a devastating fire at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, Kenya.
In a heartfelt letter addressed to President William Ruto, the Pope conveyed his condolences and offered prayers for the victims’ families and friends, emphasizing his spiritual support during this unimaginably difficult time.
The letter, delivered by the Apostolic Nunciature in Kenya, highlighted the Pope’s deep sadness upon learning about the fire, which occurred around 11 PM on Thursday.
“His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply saddened to be informed of the loss of the young lives… and expresses his spiritual closeness to all who are suffering the effects of this calamity,” the embassy stated. The Holy Father commended the souls of the deceased to God’s loving mercy and prayed for the civil authorities and personnel who are aiding aftermath efforts.
The tragic incident resulted in the recovery of 19 bodies at the scene, with two additional students succumbing to their injuries in hospital, bringing the total death toll to 21. The pupils, aged between nine and 13, were enrolled in Grades 4 to 8.
In a national address, President Ruto described the incident as “an unfathomable tragedy” and announced a three-day national mourning period.
He ordered the Kenyan and East African Community (EAC) flags to fly at half-mast from dawn on September 9 until sunset on September 11.
Ruto also extended his condolences to the families affected and vowed support for the survivors and the 14 students injured in the fire.
The outpouring of grief across the nation underscores the shared humanity felt in the wake of this tragedy, as Kenyans unite in mourning the loss of these young lives.
