THE King and Queen have expressed their “deepest possible sympathy” to the Swiss President, Guy Parmelin, after 40 people died and 119 were injured in a fire in Crans-Montana, a ski resort in the Alps, in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
The fire broke out in a bar, Le Constellation, at about 1.30 a.m. local time, during New Year celebrations. Investigators have said that it was likely to have been caused by sparklers placed on champagne bottles.
Mr Parmelin described the fire as “one of the worst tragedies our country has ever experienced”.
In a message to Mr Parmelin, the King wrote that he and the Queen had been “appalled, and greatly saddened” to learn of “the devastating fire”.
He continued: “It is utterly heartbreaking that a night of celebration for young people and families instead turned to such a nightmarish tragedy.
“While offering our admiration for the heroic first responders and the selfless emergency services, we wanted, above all, to convey our deepest possible sympathy to all those who have been so dreadfully affected by this horrific disaster.
“Our most heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of all those who have so tragically lost their lives and with those who remain in a critical condition in hospital.”
The general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Revd Professor Jerry Pillay, wrote to Mr Parmelin on New Year’s Day to express the WCC’s “most sincere condolences”.
“Our hearts go out to you, and especially to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, in this moment of unimaginable grief and sorrow,” he wrote. “We commend the dedicated efforts of your government to alleviate the suffering of the affected families and to provide indispensable care to those who remain hospitalized, and we pray for their full and swift recovery.
“We hold you and your nation in our prayers as you mourn the dead. We also remember in particular all those who are offering care and support to the many people affected by this tragedy, including victims and families of different nationalities.”
In a pastoral letter addressed to churches in Switzerland, Professor Pillay wrote: “You are not alone. People around the world are praying for you, mourning with you, and standing with you in solidarity. May you find strength and comfort in one another, and may the memories of your loved ones become a source of light and peace in the difficult days ahead.”
Mourners attended a mass on New Year’s Day in the Montana-Station Roman Catholic Church. The Bishop of Sion, the Rt Revd Jean-Marie Lovey, told Vatican News that the church had been “completely full”, which, he said, signalled people’s need “to gather, to come together again, to live together,” because “loneliness, especially at times like this, is too heavy to bear.”
He continued: “People are asking themselves: how could this have happened? What happened? There are many expectations, requests for clarification, incomprehension regarding what was experienced. It is so terribly painful.”
On Sunday, Bishop Lovey presided at a memorial mass in the Chapelle Saint-Christophe, which he described as “the town’s second church”. Members of the town’s Reformed churches attended the mass.
A telegram sent to Bishop Lovey last Friday, signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said that the Pope “joins in the mourning of the families and the entire Swiss Confederation. He wishes to express his compassion and concern to the loved ones of the victims. He prays to the Lord to welcome the deceased into his dwelling of peace and light, and to support the courage of those who suffer in their hearts or in their bodies.”
This story was updated on 5 January 2026