Pope prays for typhoon victims in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis on Sunday offered prayers for the victims of devastation caused by Typhoon Ulysses in the Philippines that left at least 69 people dead and affected around 1.7 million others.

In his official Twitter account @Pontifex, the 83-year-old pontiff also expressed his solidarity with the Filipino people, particularly those less fortunate.

“I am near in prayer to the dear people of the #Philippines who are suffering because of the destruction, and especially because of the flooding caused by a strong #typhoon,” said the pope.

“I express my solidarity to the poorest families and those who are doing all they can to help them,” he added.

The pope posted the tweet amid reports of heavy flooding triggered by Ulysses, particularly in Marikina City and the provinces of Rizal, Cagayan and Isabela that forced people to climb to their roofs as floodwaters swamped their homes because of incessant heavy rains. They waited for the floodwaters to subside or for rescue teams to come.

There were also those who evacuated their homes to live in temporary shelters, while others were buried by landslides.

Five cyclones struck the Philippines in a span of around two weeks, including Super Typhoon Rolly, the world’s most powerful this year.

Pope Francis also offered his support to all those working to help the victims.

CBCPNews reported that last Nov. 13, the Holy Father received in private audience Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, at the Vatican.

Tagle is also president of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of Catholic charities around the world.

The Holy See Press Office announced the meeting in its daily bulletin and gave no further details.

The Church social action arm, Caritas Philippines, earlier launched a global appeal to aid those affected by the calamities. It also called on the government to seek international aid, saying the country cannot do it alone.

“The nation is in a quandary,” said Fr. Antonio Labiao, executive director of Caritas Philippines. “It is clear that we cannot do this alone.”

In 2015, the pope visited the Philippines, Asia’s only Catholic country.