Pope Francis urged the faithful to be in solidarity with the thousands affected by earthquakes along the border of Turkey and Syria this week. The two earthquakes, which struck southern Turkey on February 6, have resulted in over 20,000 deaths in the region. During his general audience on February 8, Pope Francis prayed for those dead and wounded. “Let us pray together so that these our brothers and sisters can go forth in the face of this tragedy, and let us ask Our Lady to protect them,” Pope Francis said.
Bishop David J. Malloy, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, echoed the pope’s calls for prayers and aid to those affected by the quakes. “In a region that has experienced much conflict and hardship, these heartbreaking scenes call out to us to provide aid and assistance to our brothers and sisters in need,” said Bishop Malloy. “I call upon the faithful to give generously to Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic Near East Welfare Association who are working to provide emergency humanitarian relief.” Bishop Malloy also called on the U.S. government to work with Catholic aid organizations “to deliver effective assistance to those most in need.”
Bishop Malloy’s full statement, along with donation links to Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Near East Welfare Association, can be found here.