Pope expresses 'heartfelt sympathy' after deadly Italian floods leave thousands homeless

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Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis expressed his "heartfelt sympathy" to all those affected by the extreme weather in Emilia Romagna, northern Italy this week. At least 14 people are dead and many thousands have been evacuated from their homes following exceptional, torrential rains which battered the region, triggering floods and landslides. Rivers burst their banks surging through towns, and submerging thousands of acres of farmland, as more than half the average annual rain fell in just 36 hours.

This catastrophe marks the latest episode of extreme weather and violent storms to strike the globe as the climate crisis intensifies.

In his message the Pope prayed that God will comfort the wounded, and console those who are suffering the consequences "of the grave calamity."

Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to all those who, amid great difficulty, are working to bring relief and alleviate all suffering, and to diocesan communities "for their manifestation of communion and fraternal closeness to the most-tried populations."

The Holy Father concluded by offering his Apostolic Blessing to all, as a sign of special spiritual closeness. He also relayed the prayers of Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Caritas has been on the ground working to help the suffering with relief efforts. Father Marco Pagniello, Director of Caritas Italiana, said today that they are working to obtain an updated picture of the situation and to identify together the first needs to be addressed, in coordination with the Presidency of the Italian Episcopal Conference and the Bishops of the most-affected Dioceses.

At present local Caritas staff say the situation is still chaotic and clearing up operations are still underway.

Regional delegate, Mario Galasso, reported that many diocesan structures, including halls and soup kitchens, have been hit by the floods.

"Despite this," he said, "the various diocesan and parish Caritas are already active in hosting families and supporting them with the most immediate needs, such as drinking water, blankets, etc., and we will continue to work on these aspects in the coming days."

As the deadly Italian rains wreaked havoc, across the globe, several other climate catastrophes have killed many people and caused huge damage.

In Africa, the death toll in Malawi after tropical Cyclone Freddy has exceeded 1000. In Asia, Cyclone Mocha, which earlier this week slammed between Myanmar's port city of Sittwe and Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, home to nearly one million mostly Rohingya refugees, has killed at least six people and caused hundreds of injuries. A vast communications blackout that has left relief workers struggling to assess the extent of the damage.