Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 26) — Pope Francis on Friday offered prayers for storm-hit communities in the Philippines during his annual Christmas message to the world delivered at the Vatican.
“May the King of heaven protect all victims of natural disasters in Southeast Asia especially in the Philippines and Vietnam where numerous storms have caused flooding with devastating repercussions on people in terms of loss of life harm to the environment and consequences for local economies,” the Pope said.
A number of storms in the latter part of the year killed hundreds of people and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes.
The leader of the Catholic Church also prayed for people suffering amid the pandemic, including those who lost their jobs and victims of domestic violence and war.
He called on heads of states to cooperate to make sure everyone would have access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Pope Francis delivered his Christmas message from a lectern at the Vatican instead of the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.
