Pope Francis has expressed his “deep sadness” over the avalanche that has left more than 600 dead and 2,000 people buried in a town in Papua New Guinea, the country that the Holy Father will visit in September of this year.
In the early hours of last Friday, May 24, a landslide caused serious damage in Enga, a remote town in the north of the country, leaving more than 150 houses buried several meters deep and killing at least 670 people.
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Authorities estimate that nearly 2,000 people are buried and regret that due to the threat of landslides, rescue teams and survivors remain in danger.
In a telegram of condolences sent this Monday with the signature of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pontiff assures “his spiritual closeness to all those affected by this catastrophe.”
Likewise, he prays especially “for the deceased, for those who mourn their loss and for the rescue of the numerous people still missing.”
It also offers “encouragement to civil authorities and emergency personnel as they continue their relief efforts” and willingly invokes “divine blessings of comfort and strength upon all,” the telegram concludes.
It should be noted that Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Port Moresby, the capital of this Asian country and also the city of Vanimo between September 3 and 6, as part of what will be the longest journey of his pontificate.
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú
I am a graduate in Journalism and Advertising from the CEU San Pablo University in Madrid. Specialized in religious information in Spain since 2015. I have been a senior correspondent for ACI Prensa and EWTN Noticias in the Vatican for two years and I am currently a European correspondent based in Spain.