Pope Leo on Sunday offered prayers and words of comfort to the people of Venezuela following the devastating twin earthquakes that struck the country earlier this week, leaving numerous people dead and many others injured.
Addressing worshippers during the Angelus prayer on Sunday, Pope Leo extended his heartfelt sympathy to those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, assuring victims and their families of his prayers and solidarity.
“My thoughts are with our Venezuelan brothers and sisters who have suffered because of the recent earthquakes that claimed lives and left many others injured,” the pontiff said.
The pope also paid tribute to emergency responders and volunteers working tirelessly in the disaster-hit areas, thanking them for their dedication in assisting survivors and supporting affected communities.
Pope Leo, who spent many years serving as a missionary and bishop in Peru before his election, has maintained close ties with Latin America. He is expected to embark on a pastoral visit to the region in November, with Peru, Argentina and Uruguay among the planned destinations.
Meanwhile, the European Union announced fresh humanitarian support for Venezuela as rescue and relief operations continue.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas disclosed that the bloc had approved five million euros (about $5.9 million) in emergency assistance to help communities affected by the earthquakes.
Kallas also revealed that she had spoken with Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, to convey Europe’s solidarity and reaffirm the EU’s commitment to supporting ongoing recovery efforts.
According to her, the European Union has activated its Civil Protection Mechanism, enabling several member states to deploy search-and-rescue personnel, firefighters and medical teams to assist local authorities.
She added that the EU’s Copernicus satellite programme is being used to assess the scale of the destruction and help direct emergency aid to the hardest-hit areas as relief efforts continue.
Goodness Anunobi
Follow us on:
