Pope offers prayers for flood victims in Haiti, Dominican Republic

Published: 2004-05-26

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II offered his prayers for those who died or were left homeless after flooding in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Papal condolences as well as a plea for international emergency aid were contained in telegrams sent to the papal nuncios of the two Caribbean nations. Pope John Paul prayed that God would "inspire feelings of Christian solidarity in all those who could collaborate to remedy the tragic effects of this natural disaster," said the telegram conveying his concern to the people of the Dominican Republic. In the telegram offering prayers for flood victims in Haiti, the pope also offered his thanks and encouragement to those "courageously taking part in the rescue operations." In Baltimore, Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops' international relief and development agency, announced it would provide $20,000 in emergency funds to assist flooded communities in the two countries. At least 360 people on the island of Hispaniola, which includes both countries, died in the floods that followed several days of heavy rain.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .