Pope appeals for Columbia, DRC, Venezuela and Paraguay
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has expressed
deep pain for the tragedy that has struck the city of Mocoa in Columbia where
a gigantic landslide has killed over 250 people and left scores missing.
Colombia's security forces are searching for over 200
missing people after heavy mudslides reportedly left at least 254 dead, and
injured more than 400.
Torrential rain flooded the city of Mocoa in the country's
south-west with mud and rocks, burying whole neighbourhoods and forcing
residents to flee their homes.
Speaking after the Angelus prayer which he
recited during his visit to the northern Italian town of Carpi, the Pope said
he is praying for the victims and he assured his closeness to those who are
grieving the loss of their loved ones.
He also thanked all those who are working to assist the
victims and provide rescue efforts.
Pope Francis then turned his thoughts to the situation of
conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kasai region where,
he said, bloody armed clashes are killing and displacing people.
He appealed for prayers for peace in the nation, exhorting
believers to pray so that “the hearts of those who are behind such crimes be
freed from the slavery of hatred and violence, because hatred and violence are
always destructive”.
The Pope noted that the violence in DRC is also affecting
Church members, Churches and Church-run institutes like hospitals and schools.
Francis finally focused attention on the crises that are
creating socio-political turmoil in Venezuela and in Paraguay.
“I pray for those populations who are very dear to me, he
said, and invite all to tirelessly persevere in their search for political
solutions, avoiding every kind of violence”.
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