During his Wednesday General Audience in the Vatican, Pope Francis offered words of consolation to all the suffering and displaced in Papua New Guinea after a devastating landslide claimed countless lives and buried villages in the country he is set to visit in September.
The Pope expressed his closeness to those afflicted by the landslide as the death toll continues to rise, stating, “I wish to assure you of my prayers for the victims of the massive landslide that swept through some villages in Papua New Guinea.”
Parts of a mountain in the Maip-Mulitaka area of Enga province collapsed, impacting more than 70,000 people in the region, with over 2,000 estimated to have lost their lives.
Death toll reaching new heights
This latest appeal from the Pope follows a telegram of condolences issued earlier in the week, where he prayed for the deceased, their families, and the rescue of those still missing.
Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Papua New Guinea in September as part of his upcoming tour.
Blessed Giuseppe Rossi honored
During the General Audience, the Pope also remembered the beatification of Father Giuseppe Rossi in Novara, Italy, lauding him as a “zealous parish priest of charity” who sacrificed his life for his flock during World War II.
Liturgical Memorial of St. Paul VI
As the day marked the liturgical memorial of St. Paul VI, Pope Francis urged the faithful to rediscover the essence of being Christian and to embrace the path of love and faith. He specifically recommended reading Paul VI’s letter ‘Evangelii nuntiandi’ to gain insight and inspiration.
