Pope sends condolences to Indonesia earthquake victims

St Joseph's, Denbasar

Source: Fides

In a message to Church and civil authorities in Indonesia, Pope Francis has expressed his sorrow for the "tragic loss of life" caused by Sunday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake on Lombok island. The Holy Father speaks of his "heartfelt solidarity" with all those affected by the massive quake.

The Pope said he is praying for "the repose of the deceased, the healing of the injured, and the consolation of all who grieve the loss of their loved ones."

Pope Francis encouraged the search and rescue efforts and invoked "upon the people of Indonesia divine blessings of consolation and strength."

At least 98 people died when the earthquake struck the islands of Lombok and Bali. Many homes have collapsed, and the Indonesian Red Cross is calling for blood donations to help the injured. It is flying in tarpaulins and mattresses for survivors made homeless.

Bali and Lombok are popular destinations for tourists from all over the world. Around 1,000 tourists were being evacuated from three small islands, reported one Indonesian newspaper.

At least one Catholic parish church in the city of Mataram in Lombok has been damaged. At the cathedral in Bali's capital, Denpasar, the ceiling has fallen in. But local media quoted a priest saying the tremor struck after Mass ended, and there were no casualties.