Pope Francis mourns as Italian flood kills nine
By Christian George
The Vatican Priest, Pope Francis has expressed heartfelt sympathy to those killed as the Italian sea overflows its banks.
Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the Vatican’s Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, to the Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi shared the condolences on behalf of Pope Francis via telegram on Thursday.
He said the Holy Father asked the Cardinal to convey his sentiments of heartfelt sympathy to the relatives and friends of the victims of the disaster which struck the territory.
He assured the victims of his fervent prayers as he appreciated others who, even in pain, are working to alleviate others from their misfortune.
The Holy Father concluded by offering his Apostolic Blessing to all, as a sign of special spiritual closeness. He also relayed the prayers of Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Meanwhile, this overflow was an aftermath of torrential rains which battered northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region and eastern provinces, triggering floods and landslides.
Civil Protection Minister, Nello Musumeci said some areas had received half their average annual rainfall in just 36 hours.
According to Vatican News, rivers burst their banks and water washed through towns and submerged thousands of acres of farmland.