October 7, 2010. The Pope received a gift from the 33 miners trapped nearly 2257 feet underground in the city of San Jose in Chile. Their present was a flag signed by all of them. The Pope said he is closely monitoring the situation and hopes they will be rescued as soon as possible.
"I cannot forget the miners of the Atacama region and their loved ones, for whom I continue to pray fervently”, said Pope Benedict XVI to the new Chilean ambassador before receiving the flag.