‘Distraught’ Pope meets Italian kinfolk of Swiss fireplace victims and tells them ‘God has not deserted you’

Pope Leo XIV has met the Italian families of the victims of the Swiss bar fire on New Year’s Eve, telling them that God has not abandoned them. 

The blaze in Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski-resort town on Crans-Montana, in the Valais region, saw 40 people perish in the early hours of January 1. 

A further 116 people were injured, with 83 pf them being treated for severe burns. 

The victims, who were celebrating the new year at the time, came from all over the world. Of those who died, six were Italian, while a further 10 were injured. 

Speaking at the Vatican, the American pope today told those who are still alive, as well as the families of those who died: ‘I am very moved and distraught as I meet you at this time of great pain and suffering, dear families. 

‘One of your dearest, most beloved people has lost their life in a catastrophe of extreme violence, or has been hospitalized for a long time, with their body disfigured by the consequences of a terrible fire that has struck the consciousness of the whole world’.

Pope Leo told them that despite the hardship they have endured, God had not abandoned them. Despite this, he recognised the impotence of his mere words. 

He said: ‘What can you say in a situation like this? What meaning can you give to events like this?

Pope Leo XIV meets relatives of victims of the Crans-Montana fire, at the Vatican, January 15, 2026

Speaking at the Vatican, the American pope today told those who are still alive, as well as the families of those who died: ‘I am very moved and distraught as I meet you at this time of great pain and suffering, dear families’

The blaze in Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski-resort town on Crans-Montana, in the Valais region, saw 40 people perish in the early hours of January 1

‘Where can you find consolation worthy of what you feel, comfort that isn’t empty and superficial words, but that touches you deeply and rekindles hope?’ 

It comes as investigators are still trying to piece together exactly what happened on New Year’s Eve in Crans-Montana. 

The waitress blamed for starting the fire was made to wear a promotional crash helmet, which prevented her from seeing sparklers, a witness has claimed.

Cyane Panine, 24, was filmed wearing the crash helmet from Dom Perignon, the Champagne brand, as she was lifted onto the shoulders of Mateo Lesguer, 23, the in-house DJ.

This was ‘at the request’ of the bar manager, Jessica Moretti, 40, the witness states in an official report compiled by the Swiss authorities.

The Dom Perignon ‘motorcycle crash helmet’ covered Cyane’s face completely with a black visor, meaning she could hardly see anything as she carried champagne bottles plugged with sparklers.

The sparklers are said to have ignited soundproofing foam in the basement ceiling, leading to 40 deaths and 116 others being horrifically burned at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana.

Mateo, who was wearing a carnival mask that also hid his face, tragically died alongside Cyane in the bar.    

Jessica Moretti is now under investigation for multiple alleged crimes, including ‘manslaughter by negligence’

Cyane Panine, 24, was filmed wearing the crash helmet from Dom Perignon, the Champagne brand, as she was lifted onto the shoulders of Mateo Lesguer, 23, the in-house DJ 

The Dom Perignon ‘motorcycle crash helmet’ covered Cyane’s face completely with a black visor, meaning she could hardly see anything 

Ms Moretti is now under investigation for multiple alleged crimes, including ‘manslaughter by negligence’.

The bar manager, who is currently on bail and wearing an electronic tag, has confirmed the battery-powered helmet, which flashed from green to pink, was part of a stunt designed to sell champagne. 

‘These are Dom Pérignon helmets,’ she said. ‘These helmets are delivered by our champagne supplier, and we wear them from time to time when we serve champagne.’

With her field of vision significantly reduced, Cyane was unable to see the sparklers ‘touching the ceiling’, the official report reads.