Pope Leo XIV has sent his condolences to families and loved ones of all who have perished in a devastating earthquake in Colombia, promising prayers “for the eternal rest of those who died” and for the swift success of rescue and relief efforts.
In a telegram signed by the Holy See’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pontiff on Tuesday offered his heartfelt condolences to all who, “in this hour of profound sorrow, mourn the loss of their loved ones,” and thanked responders working “with generous dedication.”
Rescue workers in Colombia were continuing their search for survivors on Tuesday, after the South American country experienced the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in its territory.
“The first night is crucial [for rescuing victims trapped in collapsed buildings],” Bishop Juan Carlos Barreto of the Diocese of Soacha, who heads Colombian Caritas, told Crux Now.
RELATED: Church mobilizes to help quake victims in Colombia
At least 169 people were confirmed dead by Tuesday morning, while hundreds of others were known to be injured. The number of missing had risen above 3,000 by Tuesday, and the death toll is expected to rise.
The pontiff’s message was addressed to the president of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Francisco Javier Múnera Correa of Cartagena, and concluded with the apostolic blessing and an invocation of Our Lady, to “pour out upon the beloved Colombian people the gifts of spiritual strength and Christian hope.”
Eduardo Campos Lima contributed to this report from São Paulo, Brazil.
______
You are reading this Crux Now article for free. You can register for our free daily newsletter here, and you can become a Crux Now supporter for full access to all our premium content here. To find out more about why becoming a Crux Now supporter is a great idea, go here.
