Pope Francis expressed this Sunday (16) his solidarity with the victims of the floods of recent weeks in Brazil. After the Sunday Angelus in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, he also asked for protection for those who conduct rescues in these situations.
“I express my closeness to the people affected by heavy rains and floods in various regions of Brazil in recent weeks. I am praying especially for the victims and their families and for those who have lost their homes. May God sustain the efforts of those who are providing relief,” he said. .
The rains that have hit Minas Gerais since the beginning of the year have left more than 370 municipalities in an emergency situation (44% of the state) and led to rivers flooding and tens of thousands of residents displaced by the floods or the risk of dams breaking. According to the State Civil Defense, 25 people died and 52,000 were left homeless.
In Bahia, since the end of last year, more than 25 people have died and almost 100,000 have been left homeless or displaced by heavy rains in several cities.
Fathers and Mothers ‘Heroes’
Last week, the 85-year-old pope again made an appeal for the reception of migrants and asylum seekers, one of the great themes of his pontificate.
In an interview published on Thursday (13) in the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, the pontiff spoke of the role of fathers and mothers in the face of conflicts and difficulties in the modern world, such as the coronavirus pandemic, wars and poverty.
“I think of many fathers, many mothers, many families who are fleeing wars, who are pushed to the borders of Europe and beyond, and who live in situations of pain, injustice and that no one takes them seriously”, admitted the pope.
“I wanted to say to these fathers, these mothers, that for me they are heroes, because I see in them the courage of those who risk their lives for the love of their children, for the love of their family”, he added.
Francis said that he feels close “to the drama of these families, these fathers and mothers who are experiencing a particular difficulty, aggravated above all because of the pandemic”.
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