The Gospel needs to be heard today!
Stand with us in this mission.
While Pope Leo is on his first apostolic visit in Turkey, he sent victims of a fire in Hong Kong the assurance of his closeness and prayer through his Secretary of State.
A note from Cardinal Pietro Parolin to the bishop of Hong Kong, Stephen Chow Sau-Yan, assured "all those suffering from the effects of this calamity" of the Holy Father's "spiritual solidarity."
Noting especially the injured and the families who are grieving, he said he "commends the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of the Almighty and offers prayers for the emergency personnel who continue to provide medical assistance and search for those who are still missing."
He invoked "the divine blessings of strength, consolation, and peace" upon all.
The fire broke out Wednesday afternoon local time in one of the 32-story buildings, and quickly spread to the neighboring apartment high-rises. It was not "basically under control" until night was falling the next day.
More than 70 people are confirmed dead at time of publication but some 300 are still unaccounted for.
The BBC reported that the high-rises included nearly 2,000 apartments and some 4,600 residents lived there. It said nearly 40% of its residents are estimated to be at least 65 years old.
Of Hong Kong’s 7.5 million population, it is estimated that nearly 400,000 are Catholic, with about 260 priests in active ministry.
