The prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development, Cardinal Michael Czerny, visited this Friday the areas affected by the floods caused by the DANA (isolated depression at high levels), which have claimed more than 200 lives in the eastern area from Spain.
The cardinal was accompanied at all times by the Archbishop of Valencia, Mons. Enrique Benavent, with whom he toured the most affected municipalities.
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The first stop was in the town of Benetusser, where he visited some youth centers, a parish and the Nuestra Señora del Socorro School, the educational center in the town most affected by the flood.
The magnitude of the force with which the water burst into the school grounds is a good account of the fact that the image of the Virgin of Socorro was found 11 kilometers away, as well as that the walls of the center were destroyed.
Bishop Czerny then went to the towns of Alfafar and Catrarroja, where he was able to speak with residents, some parish priests and learn about the cleaning, reconstruction, humanitarian aid and spiritual accompaniment tasks, especially for the families of the deceased. .
Cardinal Czerny: “Here the Church does not speak, it acts”
According to informs the Archbishopric of ValenciaCardinal Michael Czerny assured that “here the Church does not speak, it acts. And the Church prioritizes what the people need.”
The cardinal stated that “it is impressive to see a temple that is a warehouse so that people can eat, clean themselves, etc. But it is also impressive that there is an atmosphere of faith, of prayer, of hope.”
The cardinal also highlighted “the fact that the Church, the volunteers, have been the first and even the only ones to respond. That teaches us something about what the life and service of the People of God should be.”
The prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development of the Vatican encouraged “not to lose the spirit of collaboration and service” as well as “not to return to the individualism of the past and to grow in the ability to accompany one another.”
He also recalled that his view seeks to “express the Pope’s prayer and solidarity, it is an instance of the Pope’s presence. “He has this people very beaten in his heart.”
Regarding the disenchantment of citizens with the management of political leaders, the cardinal asked that they offer “consistent responses, that they respond quickly, because the needs are urgent. Don’t let the months and years pass as they sometimes do.”
Asked about the care of the common home, the cardinal pointed out that “Valencia is not an isolated case. It is a dramatic case, but not isolated. And there are too many ‘valencias’ around the world every year. I hope that this ‘shock’ here in this part of the world that has power, that has capacity, can help everyone to get out of the egocentric logic that makes us blind to the problems of our Common Home and the problems of those who suffer. “It takes a lot.”
In the afternoon, the cardinal also went to the town of Paiporta, one of the most affected by the storm.
Nicholas de Cardenas
Born in 1980, I am a Spanish husband and father and journalist with more than 20 years of experience in print and digital media, specializing in sociopolitical and religious information. I have worked for more than 10 years in defense of human rights and have accreditations in Journalism and Comprehensive Communication. Since July 2022, I have been a correspondent for ACI Prensa and EWTN Noticias in Spain, covering international events of the Catholic Church.