Pope Francis offers prayers for PH storm victims

Pope Francis (File Photo: Catholic Church England and Wales/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED)

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Pope Francis has offered prayers for Filipinos affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) which pummeled most of Luzon and forced thousands to evacuate to safer grounds.

The Pope made the statement during his Angelus address from his window overlooking St.

Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday.

“I am close to the population of the Philippines, struck by a powerful cyclone. May the Lord support those people, so full of faith,” the Pope said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

Earlier, Caritas Philippines, CBCP’s humanitarian and social action arm, appealed for donations such as food, potable water, hygiene kits, and other relief supplies for storm victims.

Bishops in the hardest-hit Bicol Region asked for aid as many families remain in evacuation centers.

As of Oct. 28, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported at least 97 deaths due to the storm.