Cádiz Cathedral sets public Mass for Urda crash victims

The Catholic diocese of Cádiz and Ceuta will hold a public funeral Mass at Cádiz Cathedral on Monday, 9 November, at 20:00. Ramón Valdivia, its apostolic administrator, will lead the service.

The Mass will remember people who died in the Urda rail crash and pray for those injured. Two high-speed trains collided near Urda, Toledo, on Wednesday, 28 October. The collision caused deaths and injuries.

A service open to the public

The diocese invited all worshippers and anyone else who wishes to attend. It said the service would offer support to everyone affected by the crash.

The Church in Cádiz also sent condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died. Its prayers will include the recovery of injured people. It thanked emergency crews, security services and other people helping those affected.

The diocese said shared prayer could give comfort and hope after the crash. It also invited wider society to join the act of remembrance.

Cádiz held another funeral Mass nine months earlier after the Adamuz rail crash. The diocese presented the new service as a similar public act of solidarity.

Other church services

The nearby diocese of Jerez-Asidonia held its own Mass on the previous Thursday. Monseñor Rico Pavés led that service in memory of the Urda victims.

A separate church service is planned at Toledo Cathedral on 12 November. Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chaves announced it. King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Castilla-La Mancha president Emiliano García-Page and opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo have confirmed they will attend.

Pedro Sánchez's attendance at the Toledo service had not been confirmed. The government has left any state funeral decision to the victims' families. No date has been set for such an event.

What has been announced in Cádiz

The Cádiz service will be religious and open to the public. The diocese has not called it a state funeral. Its notice named the place, date, time and presiding church official.

Valdivia is leading the diocese as apostolic administrator. The Cádiz and Ceuta diocese said the Mass would focus on remembrance, prayer and support for the bereaved and injured.

Sources: Diario de Cádiz, La Voz de Cádiz and Sur in English.