Pope begins New Year with prayers for victims of tsunamis

Published: 2005-01-03

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II ushered in the New Year with prayers for the families and victims of a Dec. 26 earthquake and devastating tsunamis that swept through parts of Asia and Africa. The pope celebrated a special, unscheduled Mass at midnight Dec. 31 in his private chapel with intentions specifically dedicated to all those affected by the disaster, said the Vatican spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls. The pope also prayed for those engaged in relief efforts, the papal spokesman said in a written statement released Jan. 1. The United Nations estimates some 5 million people were without proper shelter and nearly 2 million were in urgent need of food and water after a series of powerful tsunamis hit 12 Indian Ocean countries. The death toll continued to climb to 140,000 people, but the United Nations said the true number of those killed in the disaster might never be known, because many bodies were washed out to sea.

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