Pope Leo XIV conveyed his closeness to Southeast Asian communities, assuring prayers for the millions devastated by weeks of heavy flooding.
During the Angelus prayer on Sunday, December 7, the Pope acknowledged the difficulties recently faced by the peoples of South and Southeast Asia.
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“I am close to the peoples of South and Southeast Asia, who have been severely tested by the recent natural disasters,” he said.
The Pope also called on the international community to show concrete signs of solidarity through humanitarian aid.
“I pray for the victims, for the families who mourn their loved ones, and for all those who are providing assistance. I urge the international community and all people of goodwill to support our brothers and sisters in those regions with concrete gestures of solidarity,” he added.
From October until November, intensified monsoon systems have caused catastrophic flooding and landslides across the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
Current reports indicate a tragic death toll of 883 in Indonesia, 486 in Sri Lanka, 185 in Thailand, and 3 in Malaysia.
In the Philippines, the death toll from Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong) and Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) has risen to 259.
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