Vatican City, 15 August, 2021 / 10:15 am (ACI Africa).
Pope Francis has called for international solidarity to alleviate suffering in Haiti following a major earthquake that killed at least 304 people.
“In recent hours a strong earthquake has occurred in Haiti, causing numerous deaths, injuries and extensive material damage. I wish to express my closeness to those dear people who have been hard hit by the earthquake,” Pope Francis said Aug. 15.
“As I raise my prayers to the Lord for the victims, I address a word of encouragement to the survivors, desiring that the international community will take a shared interest in them. May the solidarity of all alleviate the consequences of the tragedy.”
The pope prayed for the people of Haiti from the window overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the end of his Sunday Angelus prayer. He asked the crowd gathered below to offer a Hail Mary together to Our Lady of Haiti.
The 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti about 90 miles west of the capital Port-au-Prince on the morning of Aug. 14. It was stronger than the 2010 earthquake from which the island is still recovering.