Mexican bishops grieved by officials' deaths in helicopter crash

Mexico City, Mexico, Nov 14, 2011 / 16:41 pm

The bishops of Mexico sent their condolences to president Felipe Calderon after a helicopter crash took the lives of the Interior Minister and seven others.

“We raise our prayers to the Lord for the eternal repose of the deceased, in the firm hope that God will welcome them into glory and grant strength and consolation to their families,” the bishops said.

Jose Francisco Blake Mora, Mexico’s Interior Minister, died on Nov. 11 while his helicopter headed to Cuernavaca from Mexico City crashed in a field in the region of Temamatla.

Seven other government and military officials also died in the crash. Officials said investigators are looking for possible causes of the accident.

Blake Mora was appointed in July of 2010 and was the fourth person to hold the post of Interior Minister since President Calderon took office in December of 2006.

“During his time as Minister of the Interior and during his visits to the Mexico bishops, Jose Francisco Blake Mora always showed respect and understanding, as well as a special sensitivity to the challenges facing the country, giving the best of himself to build a more just Mexico,” the bishops said in a statement.

“We trust that officials will give a full explanation of this tragic incident,” they added.