Pope Leo XIV has conveyed his solidarity with the people of Indonesia after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the country’s eastern coast, triggering a tsunami warning and leaving thousands displaced in the aftermath. Source: OSV News.
In a telegram sent on the Pope’s behalf yesterday, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the Pontiff “was deeply saddened” upon learning of the August 15 earthquake.
The message was addressed to Archbishop Paulus Budi Kleden of Ende, which is located on the southern coast of Flores Island and among the most affected areas of the earthquake.
Pope Leo, he wrote, offered “the assurance of his spiritual solidarity and closeness to those suffering the continuing effects of this disaster, particularly for the many displaced and injured”.
“His Holiness encourages the ecclesial and civil authorities as they continue to provide humanitarian assistance and prays for the emergency personnel engaged in recovery efforts,” the cardinal continued.
Cardinal Parolin said the Pope commended those who died to “the loving mercy of Almighty God” and invoked “the divine blessings of consolation and strength.”
ABC News reports the death toll has reached at least 68, while an estimated13,000 have been evacuated since the earthquake struck the country’s East Nusa Tenggara province.
The Associated Press reported that authorities acknowledged that small tsunamis triggered by the earthquake struck several coastal villages.
In a report published by Mirifica News, the news service of the Indonesian bishops’ conference, Archbishop Kleden was attempting to return to Ende but was unable to due to landslides covering the main roads after the earthquake struck.
“While the Archbishop of Ende is still trying to reach Ende through disrupted road access, people in various areas of the Archdiocese of Ende are also facing a similar situation: blocked roads, damaged buildings and uncertainty due to aftershocks,” the report said.
According to the archdiocese, a number of churches and chapels suffered extensive damage and are awaiting on-site verification to assess the damage.
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Pope ‘saddened’ by devastation in Indonesia following earthquake (By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News)
