In his words after the Angelus prayer this noon, before more than 15 000 faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, the Supreme Pontiff said that ‘I pray for the deceased, for the wounded and the displaced.

May God support those who have lost their loved ones and their homes, and bless those who are helping’.

A statement released Sunday by the Holy See Press Office said that in this way Francis showed his closeness to the people of both Southeast Asian nations, which are suffering from floods caused by a violent typhoon.

The number of casualties in Vietnam rose to 281 dead and 67 missing, while 1,921 people were injured, around 232,000 houses were damaged and there was serious economic damage, particularly to agriculture in that country.

On the other hand, in Myanmar, 74 people died and 89 are missing, at least 235,000 were displaced by floods and landslides, while the damage was considerable, with around 65,000 houses and five dams destroyed.

Speaking from the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to the people who attended the usual ceremony, as well as to those who followed it around the world through various media, the Pope also referred to the current war conflicts, in particular those in Ukraine, Myanmar and the Middle East.

mh/oda/ort