Pope expresses deep sadness over cyclone's destruction in Myanmar
People collect water on a street in Yangon, Myanmar, May 6, after Cyclone Nargis slammed into the southern part of the country May 3. News agencies reported that more than 22,000 were killed in the storm and 41,000 were missing. (CNS photo/Reuters)
By Carol Glatz (Catholic News Service)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI expressed deep sadness and "heartfelt sympathy" after hearing news of "the tragic aftermath" of Cyclone Nargis, which killed tens of thousands in Myanmar.
News agencies reported May 6 that more than 22,000 people had been killed and 41,000 were missing after the cyclone's heavy rains and winds of up to 120 mph swept over southern Myanmar May 3.
The cyclone damaged at least three major cities, including Yangon, the capital of Myanmar and its largest city.
In a telegram sent on behalf of the pope by the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Pope Benedict said he was praying for the victims and their families and called for "divine strength and comfort upon the homeless and all who are suffering."
A copy of the telegram, addressed to Archbishop Paul Zinghtung Grawng of Mandalay, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar, was released by the Vatican May 6.
The pope said he was "confident that the international community will respond with generous and effective relief to the needs" of those hit by the cyclone.
As of May 5, Catholic aid agencies were assessing the humanitarian situation in the country.
Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations, said in a statement May 5 that it was gathering information in Myanmar and was concerned about the humanitarian crisis.
"There is an urgent need" for aid workers to get "to the affected areas so that we can assess the damage, start to provide food, shelter, clean water and medical assistance," said Dolores Halpin-Bachmann, Caritas emergency response team leader, in the statement. "Myanmar is a poor country and will most likely need international help to respond to a disaster on this scale."
Halpin-Bachmann added that Caritas had "only been receiving sketchy reports, but they're enough to make us concerned about the humanitarian situation."
Elizabeth Griffin, communications director for the U.S. bishops' Catholic Relief Services, said the Baltimore-based agency was ready to respond to those affected by the cyclone, but "we have not received an official request."
Eleonore Fournier-Tombs, communications officer for the Canadian Catholic aid organization Development and Peace, told Catholic New Service May 5 that it was evaluating the situation to create an appropriate action plan.
About 1 percent of the population of junta-ruled Myanmar is Catholic. A great majority of its citizens are Buddhist.
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Contributing to this story was Regina Linskey in Washington.
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Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops