Pope Prays for Yolanda Victims

Vatican, other countries send aid to Philippines

Expressing his solidarity and compassion for the people of the Philippines, the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis has offered his prayers for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda that hit the country, November 8.

“We remember the Philippines, Vietnam and the entire region hit by Typhoon Haiyan. Please be generous with prayers and concrete help,” the pope said through his Twitter account @Pontifex, adding:
“I ask all of you to join me in prayer for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan / Yolanda especially those in the beloved islands of the Philippines.”

The pope even sent a telegram of condolence to President Benigno Aquino III. The letter, signed by Archbishop Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State stated: “Deeply saddened by the destruction and loss of life caused by the super typhoon, His Holiness Pope Francis 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. 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. He invokes divine blessings of strength and consolation for the Nation.”
Last Sunday, November 10, after his Sunday Angelus, the Pope asked those present for a silent prayer and led them all in reciting the Hail Mary as reported by news.va.

Aside from his spiritual support, Pope Francis also extended a material help for the victims of the typhoon that hit Visayas by donating an initial amount of US $ 150,000, released through the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Vatican’s charity arm last November 11, a report posted at the cbcpnews website said.

“The sum represents an initial and immediate concrete expression of the sentiments of spiritual closeness and encouragement of the Supreme Pontiff towards the persons and the areas devastated by the storm,” according to the press statement of Pontifical Council coursed through the Apostolic Nunciature here in the Philippines.

The President of the Philippines has declared a State of National Calamity on November 11, as he also promised to speed up the distribution of aid for the victims. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma also declared a Novena of Prayer and Charity from November 11 to 19, for the typhoon victims.

Donations from different countries have reached a total of P 2.34 billion and the Commission on Audit will audit the said amount.

Cbcp news reported that Yolanda made six landfalls on November 8, hitting the towns of Guiuan, Samar; Tolosa, Leyte; Bantayan Island and Daanbantayan, Cebu; Concepcion, Iloilo; and Coron, Palawan.
A total of 4.5M individuals were reportedly affected in 1,741 barangays in 343 municipalities and 39 cities in 36 provinces.

Reports state Tacloban City suffered the worst because of 18 foot-high storm surges that destroyed 95% of the city. Thousands of people are feared dead, a number missing and injured.