Pope Leo XIV is offering prayers for the people of Nepal as catastrophic flooding has left hundreds dead and many more missing, while rescue teams continue searching devastated Himalayan communities.
According to Vatican News, the Holy Father expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and destruction caused by the disaster and assured survivors, grieving families and those involved in rescue efforts of his spiritual closeness.
In a telegram sent Thursday and signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo commended the souls of those who died “to the clemency of the Almighty” and extended his condolences to their loved ones, according to Vatican News.
The Pope also offered prayers for emergency personnel carrying out difficult search-and-rescue operations and invoked God’s assistance and protection upon the people of Nepal.
The scale of the disaster is immense. Vatican News reports that more than 350 people have died in Nepal and more than 900 remain unaccounted for after a powerful surge of water, mud and debris swept through communities near the country’s northern border with China.
Hundreds of additional people are missing in neighboring Tibet, bringing the number unaccounted for across the affected region to nearly 1,500. Authorities expect the death toll to increase as search teams continue working through areas buried or damaged by debris.
The disaster is believed to have begun when part of a Himalayan glacier collapsed, sending a sudden surge of water into a river system along the Nepal-China border. According to Vatican News, scientists said the collapse generated tremors powerful enough to initially be mistaken for an earthquake.
The resulting floods inundated entire settlements and severely damaged or destroyed roads, bridges, power infrastructure and other essential facilities. A major border crossing was also struck, disrupting transportation and trade through the region.
Among those missing are foreign visitors who had traveled to the area on pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, sacred destinations for several religious traditions.
Thousands of soldiers, police officers and emergency workers have been deployed as the search for survivors continues. Helicopters are being used to reach isolated communities, evacuate people and deliver food, medical supplies and other emergency assistance, according to Vatican News.
Rescue efforts remain dangerous because of destroyed roads, mountainous terrain and the continuing threat of landslides and additional flooding. International assistance has also begun arriving from neighboring countries, the United Nations and humanitarian organizations.
For Catholics around the world, the unfolding tragedy is an invitation to join the Holy Father in prayer for those who have died, for families awaiting news of missing loved ones, and for the rescuers risking their lives amid dangerous conditions.
As Nepal confronts the enormous task of rescue, recovery and rebuilding, Pope Leo’s message places the suffering of those affected before God and assures them that they are not forgotten by the universal Church.
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