Pope says he's close to Turkish people in time of 'so much pain'

February 17, 2023 at 2:56 p.m.

By Justin McLellan

VATICAN CITY – "I am close to you, and I pray for you," Pope Francis told the Turkish people reeling from earthquakes that killed nearly 42,000 people in Turkey and neighboring Syria, according to figures updated Feb. 16.

During a meeting with Ufuk Ulutas, Turkey's new ambassador to the Holy See, the Pope wrote a message to the "noble Turkish people" and said his thoughts and prayers are with them "in this moment of so much pain."

Two 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck southern Turkey Feb. 6. Ten days after the quakes, at least 36,000 people were reported dead in Turkey and another 5,800 in Syria.

Via the papal almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Pope Francis sent 10,000 thermal shirts to earthquake victims in southern Turkey Feb. 15. Over 6.3 million people in the region are believed to be sleeping in temporary lodging such as tents and shipping containers in below-freezing temperatures.

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches, was scheduled to travel to Turkey and Syria Feb. 17-21 to express the Pope's closeness to those affected by the earthquake, the Vatican said Feb. 16.

The archbishop was scheduled to meet with Catholic relief organizations and religious congregations working on the ground as well as the leaders of Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim communities in the region. In Damascus, Syria, the archbishop planned to visit a mosque hosting people left homeless after the earthquake.

The dicastery said in a statement that Archbishop Gugerotti's trip aims "to encourage all those working to confront the emergency," and to express "the need to establish better coordination" among relief efforts that will be needed in the coming months.


Related Stories

VATICAN CITY – "I am close to you, and I pray for you," Pope Francis told the Turkish people reeling from earthquakes that killed nearly 42,000 people in Turkey and neighboring Syria, according to figures updated Feb. 16.

During a meeting with Ufuk Ulutas, Turkey's new ambassador to the Holy See, the Pope wrote a message to the "noble Turkish people" and said his thoughts and prayers are with them "in this moment of so much pain."

Two 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck southern Turkey Feb. 6. Ten days after the quakes, at least 36,000 people were reported dead in Turkey and another 5,800 in Syria.

Via the papal almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Pope Francis sent 10,000 thermal shirts to earthquake victims in southern Turkey Feb. 15. Over 6.3 million people in the region are believed to be sleeping in temporary lodging such as tents and shipping containers in below-freezing temperatures.

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches, was scheduled to travel to Turkey and Syria Feb. 17-21 to express the Pope's closeness to those affected by the earthquake, the Vatican said Feb. 16.

The archbishop was scheduled to meet with Catholic relief organizations and religious congregations working on the ground as well as the leaders of Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim communities in the region. In Damascus, Syria, the archbishop planned to visit a mosque hosting people left homeless after the earthquake.

The dicastery said in a statement that Archbishop Gugerotti's trip aims "to encourage all those working to confront the emergency," and to express "the need to establish better coordination" among relief efforts that will be needed in the coming months.

Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


SJV football visits Notre Dame for first-round Non-Public B playoff game
When Notre Dame, Lawrenceville, hosts St. John Vianney, Holmdel, in a NJSIAA ...

Icon of Blessed Carlo inspired by Holy Spirit, says Hamilton parishioner
In 1999, Kristina Sadley, parishioner of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square ...

Talitha Kum trains nuns, youth against human trafficking and forced marriage in Bangladesh
Talitha Kum Bangladesh is empowering religious sisters and youth communities in the South Asian country to fight against human trafficking...

Be on the lookout for hope; keep moving forward in faith, pope writes
Christians should make a practice each night of identifying signs of hope, even small ones, that came their way during the day...

Top Vatican official hopes Trump will promote peace, national unity
The Vatican secretary of state said his prayer for Donald J. Trump is that God would grant him wisdom "because that is the main virtue of those who govern...


The Evangelist, 40 North Main Ave., Albany, NY, 12203-1422 | PHONE: 518-453-6688| FAX: 518-453-8448
© 2024 Trenton Monitor, All Rights Reserved.