Pope Leo XIV yesterday offered prayers for those affected by Super Typhoon Ragasa, which recently struck Taiwan and other Asian countries, resulting in severe casualties.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) expressed Taiwan's gratitude for the gesture on behalf of President William Lai (賴清德).
The pope's prayers came toward the end of the Mass for the Jubilee of Catechists, delivered to crowds gathered in St Peter's Square, the Vatican Times reported.
Photo: AP
The pope specifically mentioned Asia, saying that a "very powerful typhoon" had struck several regions, "in particular the Philippines, the island of Taiwan, the city of Hong Kong, the Guangdong region [in China] and Vietnam," the report said.
"I assure the affected populations, especially the poorest, of my closeness and of my prayers for the victims, the missing, the many displaced families, the countless people who have suffered hardship, as well as the rescue workers and civil authorities," Pope Leo XIV said.
Super Typhoon Ragasa hit Taiwan early last week. As of yesterday, it had claimed 17 lives, with seven people still missing, mostly in Hualien County’s Guangfu Township (光復) after the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) barrier lake burst, flooding the area.
Lin thanked Pope Leo XIV for expressing concern over the losses caused by the typhoon and offering prayers for those affected.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today pledged to continue working with Pope Leo XIV to promote related humanitarian assistance.
The pope previously offered prayers and concrete aid for Taiwan after Typhoon Danas struck on July 16.
The Holy See is Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Europe, with formal ties established in 1942.
Super Typhoon Ragasa was the world's most powerful tropical cyclone so far this year, severely affecting the northernmost portion of Luzon island in the Philippines, and impacting Hong Kong, Macau, southern China and Vietnam.
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