Pope says he’s close to Turkish people in time of ‘so much pain’ February 16, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — “I am close to you, and I pray for you,” Pope Francis told the Turkish people reeling from earthquakes that killed nearly 42,000 people in Turkey and neighboring Syria, according to figures updated Feb. 16. Pope Francis writes a message to the Turkish people during a meeting with Ufuk Ulutas, Turkey’s new ambassador to the Holy See, in the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Feb. 16, 2023. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) During a meeting with Ufuk Ulutas, Turkey’s new ambassador to the Holy See, the pope wrote a message to the “noble Turkish people” and said his thoughts and prayers are with them “in this moment of so much pain.” Two 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck southern Turkey Feb. 6. Ten days after the quakes, at least 36,000 people were reported dead in Turkey and another 5,800 in Syria. Via the papal almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Pope Francis sent 10,000 thermal shirts to earthquake victims in southern Turkey Feb. 15. Over 6.3 million people in the region are believed to be sleeping in temporary lodging such as tents and shipping containers in below-freezing temperatures. Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches, was scheduled to travel to Turkey and Syria Feb. 17-21 to express the pope’s closeness to those affected by the earthquake, the Vatican said Feb. 16. The archbishop was scheduled to meet with Catholic relief organizations and religious congregations working on the ground as well as the leaders of Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim communities in the region. In Damascus, Syria, the archbishop planned to visit a mosque hosting people left homeless after the earthquake. The dicastery said in a statement that Archbishop Gugerotti’s trip aims “to encourage all those working to confront the emergency,” and to express “the need to establish better coordination” among relief efforts that will be needed in the coming months. Read More Vatican News Find room in your heart for everyone, pope tells new bishops Belarusian Catholic dissident returns home, urges prayers for imprisoned following papal audience Peruvian city to unveil world’s tallest statue of Pope Leo for trip to South America Pope Leo XIV asks Our Lady of Good Counsel for aid to make ‘courageous and wise decisions’ Pope Leo expresses hope Ukraine, Russia negotiations bear fruit Pope Leo XIV says Christians in the Middle East offer a ‘precious testimony for the entire Church’ Copyright © 2023 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
