The leader of the Roman Catholic Church offered prayers for various communities across Asia, including the Philippines, that were struck by recent storms this September.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Pope Leo XIV encouraged everyone to “show solidarity” for those who died, went missing, and are trying to recover from calamities.
“I am close to everyone, especially the poorest, affected by the exceptionally strong typhoon that has struck various parts of Asia. I pray for the victims, those who are missing, the many displaced families, and countless people who have suffered hardship,” he wrote.
The pontiff also wished that rescue personnel and civil authorities who are working to help rebuild lives in the wake of disasters are also guided and kept safe from harm.
“I invite everyone to trust in God and to show solidarity,” Pope Leo said.
The Philippines is currently reeling from a string of storms beginning with ‘Mirasol,’ followed by ‘Nando,’ and most recently ‘Opong,’ which destroyed villages and disrupted many lives in their aftermath.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) listed the official death toll from these cyclones at 27—four confirmed and 23 under validation—as of Monday, September 29. It reported 33 injured and 16 missing, also subject for validation.
Many families have been displaced who are currently staying in temporary shelters nationwide.
Super Typhoon ‘Nando,’ known internationally as ‘Ragasa,’ wreaked havoc in other parts of Asia such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, China and Vietnam. Typhoon ‘Opong’ or ‘Bualoi’ is heading towards Vietnam after passing through the Philippines last week.
