Prayers and mourning after Polish plane crash

The Pope has expressed his “profound sorrow” over the deaths of Poland’s President and top military and government officials in a plane crash today.

President Lech Kaczynski was killed alongside his wife, Poland’s army chief, the governor of the central bank and politicians when their plane came down in foggy weather while attempting to land at the airport in Smolensk, Russia.

The delegation had been on its way to a ceremony in the small village of Katyn to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the massacre of 20,000 Polish officers by Soviet secret police in 1940. All 96 onboard were killed.

In a telegram sent to acting Polish President, Bronislaw Komorowski, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his “sincere condolences” to relatives of those killed and the people of Poland.

He remembered the “goodness of merciful God” and spoke of his spiritual closeness to the country at this “difficult time”.

Queen Elizabeth sent her “deepest sympathy” to the people of Poland in a message of condolence sent to the acting President and the people of Poland.

“On this sad occasion I recall President Kaczynski’s long and distinguished public service and his role in the Solidarity movement.

“The deaths of many other of Poland’s leading figures, including former President in Exile Kaczorowski, only serve to deepen this tragedy.

“I send my deepest sympathy to you and to the whole Polish nation.”

The crash has left the Polish community in west London in mourning after it emerged that the parish Father was onboard the flight.

An investigation has been launched into the attack. It is believed the pilot ignored several commands from ground control not to land the plane.