Overview
- Leo XIV received around two dozen relatives of Italian victims, set aside prepared remarks, and urged them to seek hope in faith during their grief.
- Authorities say 40 people were killed and 116 injured in the Le Constellation bar fire at the Crans-Montana resort on New Year’s Day.
- Italian officials report six of the dead and 13 of the injured are Italian citizens, and the government has vowed to pursue justice.
- Swiss prosecutors are investigating the bar’s owners for involuntary homicide, bodily harm, and causing a fire, while French and Italian probes are also underway.
- Investigators are examining reports that sparklers ignited soundproofing on a low ceiling and that required safety inspections lapsed since 2019, with an unverified claim about a promotional helmet limiting a server’s vision under review.