Pope Francis offers prayers for typhoon victims

FILE: Pope Francis wearing a yellow raincoat during mass in Tacloban in 2015 (Malacacang Photo Bureau)

MANILA – Pope Francis has offered prayers for the country and the victims of Typhoon Ulysses.

In his tweet, the Holy Father also expressed sympathy and concern to the thousands of Filipinos affected by the storm that brought heavy flooding in some parts of the country.

“I am near in prayer to the dear people of the #Philippines who are suffering because of the destruction, and especially because of the flooding caused by a strong #typhoon,” he said in his Twitter, @Pontifex on Sunday night.

“I express my solidarity to the poorest families and those who are doing all they can to help them,” the pontiff added.

“Ulysses” caused massive flooding in Luzon including Metro Manila and the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela. The typhoon’s death toll remains at 67 — 22 in Region 2; two in Region 3; 17 in Calabarzon; eight in Region 5; 10 in CAR and eight in NCR.

Even before “Ulysses” hit, Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) also wreaked widespread destruction in the Bicol region early this month.

When Pope Francis visited the Philippines in January 2015, he held a mass in Tacloban City and met with survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), the most powerful storm recorded on land.