Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the victims of the tornadoes that have ravaged the Midwestern United States in recent days, at the Angelus on December 12, 2021.
"I pray for the victims of the tornado that hit Kentucky and other areas of the United States," the head of the Catholic Church assured from his window in the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter's Square.
The disaster, defined by U.S. President Joe Biden as "one of the worst in history" of the country, caused the death of more than 80 people on the Central Eastern Plains. In Kentucky, the hardest hit state, the town of Mayfield was devastated.
Speaking from Wilmington, Delaware, President Biden told the American people, "Jill and I pray — and I’m — sincerely mean this — pray for those who have lost loved ones and for those who are uncertain of the fate of their loved ones."
The President continued, "They lost their homes. They lost their businesses. And it’s a tragedy. It’s a tragedy. And we still don’t know how many lives were lost or the full extent of the damage."
Kentucky Governor Andy Breshear said, "Today, Kentucky is absolutely united." He continued, "We are united with our people; united to find and rescue as many as possible; united to grieve; and united to be here for our families impacted – not just today, but in the years to come so that we can rebuild together."
