VATICAN (SE): During his general audience on February 10, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the victims of the devastating flood in northern India and also sent greetings to those around the world celebrating the Lunar New Year, Vatican News reported on February 11.
Disaster struck on Sunday, February 7, when part of a Himalayan glacier broke off unleashing a devastating flood along the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers in Uttarakhand state India, breaking dams, sweeping away bridges, a small hydroelectric project and damaging a bigger one. It has left at least 31 people dead and 165 missing.
Expressing his closeness to “the victims of a calamity that happened three days ago in the north of India,” Pope Francis said he is praying for the workers who died, for their families and for all those who were harmed and affected.
Pope Francis also greeted the millions in the Far East and in other parts of the world who will be celebrating the Lunar New Year on February 12, Vatican News reported.
“To all of them and to their families, I wish to express my heartfelt greetings, together with the wish that the New Year might bear the fruit of fraternity and solidarity,” the pope said.
He said that “at this particular time, in which we are very concerned about facing the challenges of the pandemic that touches people physically and spiritually, but also influences social relationships.”
Pope Francis expressed hopes that “everyone might enjoy complete health and serenity of life.”
Lastly, the pope invited everyone to pray for the gift of peace and every other good.
“I would like to remind everyone that these are obtained through goodness, respect, far-sightedness and courage. Never forget to give preferential care to the poorest and the weakest,” he said.
