Pope calls for solidarity for hurricane-battered Haiti

Pope calls for solidarity for hurricane-battered Haiti

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has appealed for concrete solidarity for the victims of Hurricane Matthew that has killed more than 500 people in Haiti, left tens of thousands homeless, and is now moving up the east coast of Florida.

Meteorologists say Hurricane Matthew is the most powerful storm to batter the Caribbean in a decade.

A telegramme signed by the Vatican Secretary of State on behalf of the Holy Father says the Pope “expresses his sadness and joins in prayer with those who have lost loved ones”.

“Having learnt of the devastation wrought by the passage of Hurricane Matthew, which has claimed many lives and caused considerable damage” the telegrammed reads “the Holy Father expresses his condolences and assures the families of the victims his closeness while entrusting the deceased to the mercy of God”.

And while he assures the injured and all those who have lost their homes in the disaster of his spiritual closeness and love, Pope Francis calls for the concrete ‘implementation’ of solidarity [projects] to tackle the challenges facing Haiti.

The Pope concludes his message entrusting all Haitians to the maternal protection of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and imparts his Apostolic blessing.      

The telegramme was addressed to Cardinal Chibly Langlois, President of the Haitian Episcopal Conference and Bishop of Les Cayes.
 

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