Remembering the five-year anniversary of a dramatic and devastating Italian earthquake, Pope Francis has called for concrete aid, a ‘rebirth’ and hope.
The Pontiff did so during his words to Italian pilgrims at the end of his General Audience this morning, Aug. 25, in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, where he had continued his catechesis on Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians.
Don’t Be Disheartened
Greeting the faithful of Montegallo, which on Aug. 24, 2016, was struck by an earthquake, the Pontiff said: “Dear brothers and sisters, your presence offers me the occasion to turn my thoughts to the victims and the communities of Central Italy, among them Accumoli and Amatrice, which suffered the harsh consequences of that seismic event.”
“Along with the concrete aid of Institutions, it’s necessary to give proof of a “rebirth” without letting oneself be disheartened by mistrust. I exhort everyone to go forward with hope.”
“Courage!” he implored.
According to news reports, in the early morning of August 24, 2016, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake was registered, with an epicenter in the province of Rieti, near Accumoli, in the Italian region of Lazio. The earthquake affected the regions of Lazio, Umbria, Marche and Abruzzo, and the provinces of Rieti, Perugia, Ascoli Piceno, L’Aquila and Teramo in particular.
The greatest damage had been recorded in the towns of Accumoli, Amatrice and Pescara del Tronto, and the earthquake was felt almost entirely throughout central Italy.
Friendship With and Peace In Christ
The Holy Father also gave special remarks to the elderly, the sick, young people and newlyweds.
“May the desire grow in everyone’s heart to enter ever more in friendship with Christ and to find in Him serenity and Christian peace,” he prayed, expressing: “My Blessing to all.”
In addition, the Holy Father greeted the Chapter Members of the Oblate Sisters of the Child Jesus.
“To them and to the entire institute,” Francis reassured, “goes my encouragement, so that they may be able to face the problems of education with great confidence, sowing joyfully the Word of God in the hearts of young people.”
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