Pope Francis: pray for flood victims, Chinese Catholics
May 22, 2014
At the conclusion of his May 21 general audience, Pope Francis renewed his appeal, made three days earlier, to pray for and assist the victims of serious flooding in southeastern Europe.
“My thoughts go out again to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, who have been hard hit by floods, with subsequent loss of life, numerous people displaced and extensive damage,” he said. “Unfortunately, the situation has worsened, so I invite you to join me in prayer for the victims and all those who are suffering from this calamity. Let our solidarity and the concrete support of the international community not be lacking to these our brothers and sisters.”
Pope Francis also called for prayers for the Catholics of China.
“On May 24, we celebrate the liturgical memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians, who is venerated with great devotion at the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai,” he said. “I ask all the faithful to pray that, under the protection of the Mother Help of Christians, Catholics in China continue to believe, to hope, to love and to be, in all circumstances, a leaven of harmonious coexistence among their fellow citizens.”
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Further information:
- Pope: Prayers for flood victims, for China, and for Burma’s first Blessed (Vatican Radio)
- 2014 Southeast Europe floods (Wikipedia)
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