• Home »
  • Faith »
  • Faith »
  • Pope Francis prays for victims of earthquake in Croatia
exclamation

Important notice: To continue serving our valued readers during the postal disruption, complete unrestricted access to the digital edition is available at no extra cost. This will ensure uninterrupted digital access to your copies. Click here to view the digital edition, or learn more.

Farmer Tomislav Suknaic touches his horse in front of his destroyed home in the village of Majske Poljane, Croatia, Dec. 30, 2020, following an earthquake. Pope Francis offered condolences and prayers for the victims of the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that rocked central Croatia the previous day, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens.
Farmer Tomislav Suknaic touches his horse in front of his destroyed home in the village of Majske Poljane, Croatia, Dec. 30, 2020, following an earthquake. Pope Francis offered condolences and prayers for the victims of the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that rocked central Croatia the previous day, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens. CNS photo/Antonio Bronic, Reuters

Pope Francis prays for victims of earthquake in Croatia

By  Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service
  • December 30, 2020

Pope Francis offered condolences and prayers for the victims of an earthquake that rocked central Croatia.

"I express my closeness to the injured and to those affected by the earthquake, and I pray in particular for those who have lost their lives and for their families," the pope said Dec. 30 before concluding his weekly general audience.

According to the Reuters news agency, the magnitude 6.4 quake struck Dec. 29 and caused widespread damage. It destroyed at least two villages about 30 miles from Zagreb, the Croatian capital.

As of Dec. 30, seven people were known to have died; dozens were injured and many more people remained missing.

The powerful quake, which was felt as far as Austria, was the second to strike the country in two days. A magnitude 5.2 earthquake hit central Croatia Dec. 28.

In a video message posted on YouTube, Cardinal Josip Bozanic of Zagreb appealed for solidarity with the victims.

"In this trial, God will show a new hope that becomes especially evident in difficult times," Cardinal Bozanic said. "My call is for solidarity, especially with the families, children, youth, the elderly and the sick."

According to SIR, the news agency of the Italian bishops' conference, Cardinal Bozanic allocated emergency aid to those affected by the natural disaster. Caritas Zagreb will also provide assistance, especially in Sisak and Petrinja, the hardest-hit towns.

"Many people have been left homeless, we must deal with this now," the cardinal said.

Tagged under:

Related items

More in this category: « Pope Francis on Christmas: Share hope, promote peace, give vaccine to all Pope Francis will not baptize infants on feast day this year »

Please support The Catholic Register

Unlike many media companies, The Catholic Register has never charged readers for access to the news and information on our website. We want to keep our award-winning journalism as widely available as possible. But we need your help.

For more than 125 years, The Register has been a trusted source of faith-based journalism. By making even a small donation you help ensure our future as an important voice in the Catholic Church. If you support the mission of Catholic journalism, please donate today. Thank you.

DONATE