Pope Francis offered heartfelt prayers for the victims of the recent landslides in Ethiopia at the Sunday Angelus on July 28.
Heavy rains triggered the first landslide in the remote mountainous locality of Kencho Shacha Gozdi on July 21 and 22. Tragically, a second landslide occurred, engulfing those who had gathered to rescue survivors.
The two devastating landslides in the Gofa Zone of Southern Ethiopia resulted in the loss of 257 lives, and humanitarian aid is urgently needed.
Pope Francis expressed his solidarity with the affected communities, stating, "I stand close to those who are suffering and to those who provide assistance."
In his address, the Pope highlighted the broader context of global suffering, noting that while millions endure calamities and hunger, the production and sale of weapons continue to fuel wars around the world.
He condemned this situation as an intolerable "scandal" and emphasized that "war is a defeat for humanity," contradicting the spirit of fraternity symbolized by events like the Olympic Games.
Additionally, Pope Francis recalled the theme from the Book of Psalms, "Do not cast me off in my old age," in observance of World Grandparents Day on July 28.
He urged everyone to listen to the pleas of the elderly, encouraging them to respond with compassion and commitment: "I will not abandon you!"
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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