Pope Leo XIV on Sunday expressed sorrow and solidarity with the people of the Philippines following the devastating earthquake that struck Mindanao, as the death toll continued to rise.
Speaking after the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the pope assured Filipinos of his closeness following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that rocked the country’s south on June 8.
“I pray for the deceased and their families, for the wounded and for all those suffering because of this disaster,” he said.
The Office of Civil Defense said the death toll had reached 65 as of June 15, while 36 people remained missing and more than 1,400 others were injured.
Most of the fatalities were caused by landslides and falling debris in Davao Occidental and Sarangani provinces, as well as General Santos City.
Government data showed that at least 176,186 families, or 736,386 people, were affected by the earthquake.
More than 14,000 individuals remained in evacuation centers, while thousands of others sought temporary shelter with relatives, friends or in makeshift accommodations.
As rescue and relief operations continued, Caritas Philippines said affected communities face urgent humanitarian needs, including access to safe drinking water, food assistance, emergency shelter materials, hygiene kits and solar lamps.
The Church’s social action arm also underscored the need for mental health and psychosocial support, particularly for children, as well as assistance for families seeking to rebuild their livelihoods.
The national Caritas appealed for prayers and solidarity for earthquake survivors and humanitarian workers serving vulnerable communities in the hardest-hit areas.
In response to the disaster, churches across the country conducted a second collection during Sunday Masses on June 14 to support ongoing relief, recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
