VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis on Sunday, November 10, asked Catholics to provide “concrete help” to the hundreds of thousands of people made homeless in the typhoon-ravaged Philippines, and to include them in their prayers.
More than 60,000 people joined the Pope in his own prayer for the victims during his traditional Sunday mass in St Peter’s Square, a day after he had tweeted his solidarity with the Catholic Asian nation. (READ: Int’l celebs express sympathy for #YolandaPH victims)
The death toll from the super typhoon Yolanda (international codename Haiyan) that wiped out entire towns in the Philippines could soar well over 10,000, authorities warned Sunday, making it the country’s worst recorded natural disaster.
“Sadly, there are many, many victims and the damage is huge,” the head of the Roman Catholic Church said, speaking from a third-floor window of the papal palace. “Let’s try to provide concrete help.”
Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Pope’s right-hand man, said in a message to President Benigno Aquino that Pope Francis was “deeply saddened by the destruction and loss of life caused by the super typhoon (and) expresses his heartfelt solidarity with all those affected by this storm and its aftermath.”
“He is especially mindful of those who mourn the loss of their loved ones and of those who have lost their homes,” the message said.
“In praying for all the people of the Philippines, the Holy Father likewise offers encouragement to the civil authorities and emergency personnel as they assist the victims of this storm.” – Rappler.com
Get the latest info on the status of areas affected by typhoon Yolanda (international codename: Haiyan).
Help the victims of Yolanda. Visit Rappler’s list of ongoing relief operations in your area. Tell us about your relief and recovery initiatives, email move.ph@rappler.com or tweet us @moveph.
Visit rappler.com/typhoon-yolanda for the latest updates on Typhoon Yolanda.
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- Iloilo under state of calamity
- President’s ‘pork,’ savings to fund Yolanda relief efforts
- Tacloban hospital faces medicine shortage
- Land route from Manila to Tacloban now passable – Roxas
- Worried Pinoys use social media to find loved ones
- Tacloban Diary: I saw death, I fear anarchy
- TIMELINE: Super Typhoon Yolanda
- WRAP: Hundreds feared dead as Yolanda exits PH
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