“I express my closeness to those affected by the floods,” Pope Francis said this Friday, just after finishing the Angelus from the window of the Apostolic Palace. The Pontiff has described DANA as an “environmental catastrophe” and has sent a grateful greeting to those working in the rescue efforts. “All our closeness to the people of Valencia,” he insisted.
This Friday, being a religious holiday, Francisco prayed the Angelus from the window of his study overlooking Saint Peter’s Square, before about ten thousand pilgrims, and spoke about Valencia again, after the message he sent this Thursday.
First, it referred generically to “those affected by the floods” around the world. He then added that “speaking of these environmental catastrophes, let us pray for the population of the Iberian Peninsula, especially the Valencian Community, devastated by DANA, for the deceased, for their loved ones, and for all the families who have suffered damage.” . «May the Lord sustain those who suffer and those who bring help. All our closeness to the people of Valencia.
Francisco has informally asked his collaborators to keep him informed of the situation in Spain, and yesterday he sent a video message of solidarity to the president of the Episcopal Conference, Luis Argüello. “Dear brother, I want to express my closeness to the people of Valencia, so that you can send it to me from Valladolid,” he told him. «I am close to them in this moment of catastrophe and I pray for them. May God bless you all,” he added.
Also during these hours he is appreciating the spontaneous gestures of thousands of volunteers who have gone to the affected areas to provide help.
“War is the triumph of lies”
On the other hand, the Bishop of Rome also remembered this Friday the victims of the wars “in the battered Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar and South Sudan”, and requested prayers for peace.
«War is always a defeat, always. And it is ignoble, because it is the triumph of lies, of falsehood. “Maximum self-interest is sought and maximum damage is done to the adversary, human lives, the environment, infrastructure are trampled, and everything is masked with lies at the expense of the suffering of innocent people.” “I think of the 153 women and children massacred in recent days in Gaza,” he denounced.
He also mentioned that this Saturday millions of Catholics around the world will remember their deceased and visit cemeteries. «I will also celebrate a mass in the Laurentian cemetery in Rome. Let us not forget that the Eucharist is the greatest and most effective prayer for the souls of the deceased,” he assured. The Laurentino Cemetery is the third cemetery in Rome, and extends over 21 hectares.
Francis has no deceased relatives in Rome, but he plans to visit tomorrow the papal crypt area in St. Peter’s Basilica, where the pontiffs are buried, to pray for his predecessors. One of the places where it will stop is the tomb of Benedict XVI, who died on December 31, 2022.
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