Spanish bishops and religious orders respond after train crash kills at least 68 in Urda
Bishops across Spain, religious orders and Caritas offered prayers and support to the families of the dead and injured after an AVE train and an Iryo train collided on October 28 in Urda, in central Spain. At least 68 people were killed
An AVE high-speed train and a train run by Iryo, a private high-speed rail operator, collided on the morning of October 28, 2026, in the municipal district of Urda, in Los Yébenes, in the central Spanish province of Toledo. At least 68 people were killed and dozens injured. Three cars, two from the Iryo train and one from the AVE, fell down an embankment after the impact. More than 540 people were traveling on the two trains. The death toll is higher than that of the crash at Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba, which killed 46 people just 10 months earlier, making this the worst rail disaster in Spain's recent history.
The parishes of Urda and Consuegra began taking in those affected from the first moments, and the Archdiocese of Toledo, together with its diocesan Caritas office, made itself available to them to offer help and spiritual accompaniment.
The response from the Spanish Bishops' Conference
The Spanish Bishops' Conference (CEE), Spain's counterpart of the USCCB, was among the first institutions to speak. In a statement it sent condolences to the families of the dead, prayed for the eternal rest of those who died and asked for the recovery of the injured. The bishops also asked Christian communities to include prayers for all the victims in their celebrations, "so that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Consoler of the afflicted and Queen of peace, the Lord may grant the gift of Life to the victims and hope to the families and those affected."
The president of the CEE, Archbishop Luis Argüello of Valladolid, said that "tragedy has again crossed the track of our existence." He added that "the inexorable reality of the cross, in the form of structures, personal and institutional responsibilities, human limits and the mystery of evil, invites us to look to the Vera Cruz of the Christ of Urda, to weep and to pray."
The Church in Toledo and senior bishops
The secretary general of the CEE and auxiliary bishop of Toledo, César García Magán, was one of the first bishops to speak. He said he was "dismayed" by the crash and asked that those affected find in the Lord "consolation and strength in these moments of such great suffering."
Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chaves of Toledo and García Magán issued a joint message expressing their "deep concern" and their closeness to everyone affected, and recognizing the work of the emergency, medical and security services. Cardinal José Cobo, archbishop of Madrid, said he was following reports of the crash "with deep sorrow" and asked for prayers for the dead, the injured, their families and those taking part in the relief effort.
Messages from dioceses across Spain
Bishops and archbishops from across Spain added their condolences. Archbishop Francisco José Prieto Fernández of Santiago de Compostela asked the whole diocese to pray for the dead, the injured and their families, and for those working in the relief effort.
Archbishop Joan Planellas of Tarragona offered solidarity and prayers for the victims and their families. Archbishop José María Gil Tamayo of Granada prayed for the dead and expressed his closeness to relatives. Similar messages came from Archbishop José Ángel Sáiz Meneses of Seville; Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Orihuela-Alicante; Bishop Ginés García Beltrán of Getafe; Archbishop Florenció Roselló of Pamplona; Bishop Xabi Gómez of Sant Feliu; and Bishop José Antonio Satué of Málaga.
The dioceses of Huelva, which had already been closely affected by the Adamuz crash, Mérida-Badajoz, Coria-Cáceres, Cuenca, Ávila, Zamora and Vitoria also sent messages of solidarity and prayers. The bishops of the Valencia ecclesiastical province, meeting in their provincial assembly, issued a joint statement saying they had learned of the crash "with deep sorrow" and sending condolences to the families of the victims.
Bishop Sebastián Chico Martínez of Jaén heard the news in Rome, where he was at the time. He sent his condolences and expressed his closeness to the families of the dead, and he invited the whole diocese of Jaén to share in prayer the suffering of so many families.
Religious orders respond
Religious congregations also responded. CONFER, the Spanish conference of religious orders, said it joined in the suffering of the victims and their families and prayed for those working on the rescue. Sister Lucía Caram said, "with a heavy heart," that she was close to all the victims, and thanked firefighters, medical staff, security forces and emergency teams "from the heart" for their dedication to the rescue work.
Orders and congregations including the Jesuits, the Salesians, the Claretians and the Brothers of St. John of God also expressed their deep sorrow. The Society of Jesus in Spain said that among those taken to hospital was Father David Cabrera SJ, delegate of MAG+S, who was traveling on one of the trains involved. His condition is not serious and he is recovering.
The Jesuits asked for prayers for him and for all the victims, and thanked the emergency teams, medical staff and volunteers, whose work they called a "testimony of humanity in the midst of so much suffering."
