Pope  Leo XIV  has expressed his deep sorrow and solidarity following the devastating train accident that occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2026, near Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba, Spain. Two high-speed trains—an Iryo from Málaga bound for Madrid-Puerta de Atocha and a Renfe Alvia from Madrid to Huelva—collided after several carriages of the Iryo derailed and crossed into oncoming traffic at approximately 7:40 p.m. The accident, which occurred on an embankment, has greatly complicated rescue efforts.

The latest official tally confirms at least  39 deaths—including one of the train drivers—and more than  120 injured, with several in serious condition admitted to hospitals in Andalusia, where disaster protocols have been activated and dozens of people remain in intensive care units.

In a telegram sent by Cardinal  Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, and addressed to the Archbishop of Valladolid and President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Monsignor  Luis Javier Argüello García, the Holy Father declared himself  “deeply saddened”  to learn of the “painful news of the train accident in Adamuz, Córdoba, which has caused numerous victims and injuries.”

In the message, Leo XIV offers  prayers and supplications  for the eternal rest of the deceased and conveys his deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, accompanying them with expressions of comfort and heartfelt concern in these moments of immense sorrow.

The Pope also extends his sincere wishes for a  speedy and full recovery  to all the injured who are fighting for their health, while strongly encouraging the rescue teams, firefighters, medical personnel, security forces, and volunteers to  persevere  in their tireless rescue and assistance efforts, carried out under extremely adverse conditions.

Finally, invoking the maternal protection of  Our Lady of the Pillar, patron saint of Spain, the Pope imparts his  apostolic blessing  to all those affected—bereaved families, the injured, rescuers, medical personnel, and local communities—as a sign of hope and faith in the resurrection of the Lord.

This tragic event has plunged Spain into collective grief, with three days of official mourning decreed by the Government and numerous expressions of solidarity from national, regional, and international authorities. The investigation, already underway by the Railway Accident Investigation Commission (CIAF), seeks to clarify the causes—possibly related to an anomaly in the recently renovated track—to prevent future tragedies. The Holy See joins in the national mourning and the yearning for truth and justice amidst this immense human loss.