Pope writing a letter

Pope writing a letter

Pope Entrusts Portuguese Wildfire Victims to Mary

In Telegram for Victims of Devastating Wildfires, Francis Calls for Comfort, Courage, Recovery

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May Mary, who through her Assumption, is close to her children on earth, intercede for those suffering.
Pope Francis expressed this in a telegram sent by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on his behalf, for the victims affected by the wildfires that for days have been devastating the Portuguese tourist island of Madeira.
Sources report that while that in addition to the tourist island, the mainland of Portugal has been ravaged by more than 100 wildfires, including in the center, north and northwest.  In Madeira, where tourists and locals were forced to flee before the situation there was brought under control, three people will killed, along with at least one person on Portugal’s homeland.

In the Pope’s telegram to Bishop of Funchal Antonio Cavaco Carrilho, he says he is “appalled” to hear the “sad news of the terrible fires,” and expressed his spiritual closeness, solidarity, and participation in the grief of all those who mourn.
“In a particular way, on the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of the Hill,” the telegram read, “His Holiness entrusts the Diocese of Funchal to the Holy Mother of God who, with her Assumption into Heaven, is closer to her children here on earth, to intercede for them with Jesus, as a luminous sign of the future life we hope for.”
The Holy Father, before concluding the telegram, called for comfort and recovery of the wounded, courage and consolation for the affected, and special prayers for the more than 4,000 firefighters who have been working to combat the fires.
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Telegram: https://zenit.org/articles/popes-telegram-for-wildfire-victims-in-portugal/

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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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