Pope Francis has assured the many victims of Typhoon Odette that struck the Philippines Thursday last week that they are close to his heart as he expressed hope that the Sto. Niño (Child Jesus) will bring them comfort.
“I express my closeness to the people of the Philippines struck by a strong typhoon, which has destroyed many homes. May the Santo Niño bring consolation and hope to the families most in need; and may he inspire concrete help in all of us,” the Pope said after leading the midday Angelus on Sunday.
“The first concrete help is prayer,” the Holy Father added.
In 2013, when the country was devastated by super typhoon Yolanda, the leader of the 1.2-billion member Catholic Church also asked the faithful to join him in prayer for the Philippines.
Two years later, he visited the Philippines and even held mass in Tacloban City, one of the worst-hit by Yolanda.
