(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is praying for the victims of a major earthquake in Nepal. The major earthquake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter Scale, shook Nepal just before noon on Saturday, causing major damage to the densely-populated Kathmandu Valley. Officials fear hundreds of people have died. The quake’s epicenter was 80 km northwest of the country’s capital, Kathmandu. The quake toppled a 100-year -old temple, split roads, and razed houses and buildings. Among the damages is the Dharahara Tower, a national monument, built by Nepal’s royal rulers in the 1800’s. Officials estimate that at least 50 people are trapped inside the collapsed structure. The quake is reported to have caused avalanches in the Mount Everest region of the Himalayas and Tremors could be felt as far away in New Delhi in neighbouring India . Vatican Radio spoke with Fr Pius Perumana, an aid worker from Caritas Nepal in Kathmandu, who said many of the houses in the tightly packed city have collapsed and survivors need emergency medical care and shelter. “I managed to reach Kathmandu, though the roads were blocked…they are still searching for survivors. The reports are still coming in…The picture is not very clear,” he said. This is Nepal’s second-worst earthquake since 1934, when an 8.0-magnitude quake destroyed three cities: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan. Listen to the report by Andrew Summerson:
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The word “solidarity” maintains it “prophetic force” today, even though some people may have thought the term had seen its day, said Pope Francis on Saturday, during his message to members of the John Paul II Foundation. Listen to the report by Laura Ieraci: The foundation was established by papal decree in 1981…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) The word “solidarity” maintains it “prophetic force” today, even though some people may have thought the term had seen its day, said Pope Francis on Saturday, during his message to members of the John Paul II Foundation. Listen to the report by Laura Ieraci: The foundation was established by papal decree in 1981…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is praying for the victims of a major earthquake in Nepal. The major earthquake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter Scale, shook Nepal just before noon on Saturday, causing major damage to the densely-populated Kathmandu Valley. Officials fear hundreds of people have died. The quake’s epicenter was 80 km northwest of…
Read more
In Padua, Cardinal Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Holy See, gave an insight into the current thougts of the Holy Father. Speaking at the inauguration of the academic year for the Theological Faculty of Triveneto in Padua, the Cardinal commented on recent issues and the Holy Father’s thoughts and plans, particularly on terrorism, Africa, the Middle East, Cuba, the Armenian genocide, as well as on the dangers of fundamentalism.
Terrorism and the Vatican
On the recent revelation that the Vatican was an intended target of terrorists recently arrested in Italy, Cardinal Parolin commented that the “Pope is calm”, but for authorities “there is fear and it is proper, but there is not an exaggerated preoccupation with the issue and that certainly we need to be alert.” As a precaution all Vatican buildings are being guarded.
Africa
On Africa Cardinal Parolin said “after visiting Korea, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, late last year and early this year, the Pope would like to dedicate more attention to Africa,” and continued “plans are already underway to visit the continent, especially the countries that are currently faced with conflict and difficulty.”
Middle East
“The Pope has asked that the forces of the so-called Islamic State be stopped,” Cardinal Parolin went on to continue, saying that the Pope “suffers to see the walls that have arisen between the communities in the Middle East,” and that the “ongoing conflicts run the risk of fragmenting the whole region.” The Cardinal also mentioned that “for this reason, the Holy See is working to guarantee constant communication and collaboration between the different communities and also to denounce the violence that is now a daily occurrence in the region.”
Cuba
On the topic of Cuba the Cardinal said that “The Pope will go to Cuba during his planned visit to South America, especially because of the warming of relations after a long period of coldness and misunderstanding and conflict. However this process has just started and things are still fragile. It is not easy that after many years of non-communication and imcomprehension, to build a climate of mutual confidence.” Cardinal Parolin said that the Pope’s visit to the country will be an “encouragement of the process.”
Fundamentalism
With regards to the current issue of fundamentalism, the Cardinal commented that “Pope Francis speaks constantly on the dangers of fundamentalism, whether it is cultural, relgious or theological. With fundamentalism there is a grave threat to the political order because of the indefinite violence that it produces.” The Cardinal concluded that “It is up to religious people to question themselves and to participate in the construction of peace.”
The Armenia Genocide
Concerning the anniversary of the genocide in Armenia and the Pope’s comments, Cardinal Parolin said “the Pope spoke clearly and always in terms f reconciliation. When the Pope recalled the incident, it was not to elicit any animosity, but rather to approach the issues fairly, and attempt to find new ways of understanding and cooperation.”
(from Vatican Radio)…