Pope Francis calls for prayer as thousands pack Chapeco cathedral following devastating plane crash

'The city is very quiet.'

On Monday night, 71 people perished in a horrific plane crash south of the Colombian capital of Medellin.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Only six of the 77 passengers and crew survived, three of them members of the Chapocoense club, a soccer team on the brink of stardom.

On Wednesday, the Chapecoense club asked fans to congregate in Chapeco's Conda Arena to hold a vigil in honor of those lost.

In their call for fans, the club stated: "Fan, you are summoned to pay homage to our warriors. Tonight, beginning at 20:00, let's fill the Arena Conda."

On Twitter, Atlético Nacional asked fans to wear white and bring a white candle to the Medellin stadium to hold a vigil Wednesday night.

The crash impacted so many lives that even Pope Francis called for prayers.

He noted the Brazilian people are mourning the loss of promising soccer players and stated, "I'd like to recall today the Brazilian people's sorrow," before requesting prayer for the victims of "harsh tragedies."

The pontiff sent condolence telegrams to the local Colombia bishop and the head of the Brazilian bishops conference to express his solidarity and consolation to families of the dead and injured.

According to ESPNFC, distraught residents of Chapeco was stunned into silence after news of the crash broke out.

Many wandered the streets around the Arena Conda stadium, one of whom was businessman Cecilio Hans, who reported: "The city is very quiet. People will only believe once the bodies start to arrive."

Of the nineteen Chapecoense members who boarded the flight, only three survived: goalkeeper Jakson Follmann, defender Helio Zampier - also known as Neto - and defender-midfielder Alan Rushel.

The team's coach, Caio Junior, was on board the fatal flight but his son, Matheus Saroli, forgot his passport and was unable to board.

An Argentine player in the club, Alejandro Martinuccio, also missed the flight due to an injury he received during an earlier game.

Martinuccio told Argentina's La Red Radio: "I feel deep sadness. The only thing I can ask is prayers for the companions who were on the flight."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino released the following statement: "This is a very, very sad day for football. At this difficult time our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends," while Brazilian President Michel Temer declared a three-day mourning period for the "tragic loss."

Carla Vilembrini, one of the many mourners, stood outside the Santo Antonio Cathedral dressed in green and white Chapecoense jerseys.

She explained: "To lose (almost) all of them in such a tragic way, totally destroyed our city and each one of us."

Thousands packed Chapeco's cathedral on Tuesday to mourn the loss of the flight crew and passengers.

In Rio, the statue of Christ the Redeemer was lit with green spotlights above the city in silent honor of the fallen Chapecoense players.

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