IMAGE: CNS photo/Kate Munsch, Reuters
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN
CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis called on Christians to pray for victims of several
natural disasters that have hit parts of the United States, Great Britain and
Paraguay.
“I
invite you to pray for the victims of disasters that in recent days have struck
the United States, Great Britain and South America, especially in Paraguay, and
that unfortunately have caused casualties, many displaced persons, and
extensive damage,” the pope said Dec. 30, before concluding his weekly
general audience.
Severe
weather affected the southern and central United States, causing massive
flooding that claimed the lives of 35 people in 13 states, according to
CNN. Missouri was the most severely affected, with levees overflowing in St.
Louis.
Storms
also rocked Latin American countries, with Paraguay being the hardest hit,
forcing an estimated 150,000 people to evacuate. According to the BBC, the
severe weather has been attributed to the El Nino weather phenomenon, in which
warmer-than-average sea temperatures cause severe storm systems.
Other
countries affected by the storm were Brazil and the pope’s native Argentina,
where an estimated 20,000 people were evacuated due to flooding.
Three
storms struck northern Britain, causing massive flooding and leaving
thousands without electricity.
Pope
Francis prayed that “the Lord give comfort to those people and may
fraternal solidarity help them in their needs.”
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