People are seen with their belongings in the street after they left their homes Jan. 25 because of a wildfires near Vichuquen, Chile. Pope Francis sent his condolences to the victims and survivors of one of the worst wildfires in Chile's history.(CNS photo/Cristobal Hernandez, Reuters)

Pope prays for victims of deadly wildfires in Chile

798 0

By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis sent his condolences to the victims and survivors of one of the worst wildfires in Chile’s history.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, expressed the pope’s sentiments in a message dated Jan. 23 to Bishop Santiago Silva Retamales of the Military Ordinariate of Chile.

Pope Francis, the message said, wanted to convey “his condolences to the families of the victims and expressed his spiritual closeness to the wounded and those who suffer the consequences of this catastrophe.”

The pope also prayed that God would give the victims “strength and consolation” while inspiring “in everyone feelings of solidarity” so they may work together “to lessen the pain and overcome adversities.”

The pope met privately Jan. 26 with Archbishop Ivo Scapolo, apostolic nuncio to Chile.

The wildfires, which began in early January, have claimed the lives of four firefighters and two police officers. Over 4,000 people have been evacuated from areas decimated by the blazes.

“We have never seen something of this size, never in Chile’s history. And the truth is the (firefighting) forces are doing everything that is humanly possible and will continue to do so until the fires are contained and controlled,” President Michelle Bachelet said, according to the Reuters news agency.

While wildfires are frequent during months of high temperatures and low humidity, the blazes that began in Valparaiso have spread due to a prolonged drought.

Chile’s national forestry service reported Jan. 25 that of the 131 separate blazes, only 23 have been extinguished, while 55 remain out of control.

Firefighters and experts from the United States, France, Peru and Mexico are helping to fight the wildfires.

Related Post

The Basilica of St. Francis with its bell tower is pictured through corn in Assisi, Italy, Sept. 6, 2011. Pope Francis has invited young economists and entrepreneurs to take part in an initiative to be launched in Assisi March 26-28, 2020. The initiative seeks to find new ways to do business, promote human dignity and protect the environment. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope invites young people to pledge to build a new economy

Posted by - May 19, 2019 0
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has invited young economists and entrepreneurs around the world to help create a “new…
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, speaks at the Vatican June 13 about the theme of the first World Day of the Poor, to be celebrated Nov. 19. He said Pope Francis envisioned the day as a way for the whole church to reflect on the Gospel meaning of poverty. (CNS photo/Robert Duncan)

Poverty requires action, not empty words, pope says

Posted by - November 11, 2017 0
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — People cannot sit back and be indifferent or unresponsive to growing poverty in the world as…