Lent 2026
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After leading Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Leo XIV voiced his closeness to the people of Madagascar, where back-to-back cyclones have left widespread destruction and thousands displaced.
“I pray for the victims and their families, and for all those who have suffered serious damage,” the Pope said, entrusting the country to God amid what local authorities have described as a national emergency.
As reported by Kielce Gussie for Vatican News, Madagascar has been struck in quick succession by Cyclones Gezani and Fytia during an unusually intense cyclone season in the Southwest Indian Ocean. Gezani made landfall on February 10, affecting an estimated 270,000 people and displacing some 16,000. At least 40 deaths have been reported.
Madagascar is already a country plagued by poverty. In June, the country's bishops were able to meet with Pope Leo and noted, “Madagascar has suffered from the withdrawal of US aid." Some indexes consider Madagascar the world's second poorest country, after conflict-torn South Sudan.
In September 2025, the people revolted and eventually the president had to flee.
Cyclone impact in Madagascar — key facts
-Deaths: Gezani has been linked to at least 40–47 confirmed deaths across the island.
- Injuries & missing: Authorities report 400+ injuries and several people still missing after widespread damage.
- Displacement: Official figures indicate around 16,000 people displaced by Gezani alone, part of hundreds of thousands affected by the combined effects of both cyclones.
- Homes & infrastructure: Thousands of homes were destroyed or damaged — with Gezani obliterating nearly 18,000 homes and flooding or harming over 50,000 more — and key infrastructure such as schools and utilities severely impacted.
- National emergency: Madagascar’s government has declared Gezani a national disaster and appealed internationally for humanitarian aid.
- Ongoing needs: Beyond immediate shelter and food, health authorities warn of urgent concerns over water, sanitation, and disease risk in affected communities.
These figures reflect data from international reporting and humanitarian situation updates as of mid-February 2026.
National authorities, working alongside the United Nations and humanitarian partners, have mobilized search-and-rescue teams while providing emergency shelter, food, and medical assistance. Images from the port city of Toamasina show flooded streets, damaged homes, and families attempting to salvage what remains of their belongings.
Madagascar has appealed for international aid as it struggles to respond to mounting needs. In regions already vulnerable to poverty and climate-related shocks, the compounded effects of two major storms have placed enormous strain on infrastructure and local communities.
The Pope’s brief but pointed appeal situates the tragedy within the Church’s wider concern for those on the margins — particularly in countries where environmental vulnerability intersects with economic fragility. While no specific collection or initiative was announced, his words align with the Holy See’s consistent call for global solidarity in the face of climate disasters.
After addressing the situation in Madagascar, Pope Leo turned his attention to a very different moment unfolding across the globe: the approach of the Lunar New Year.
Billions of people in East Asia and in diaspora communities are preparing to celebrate the feast on February 17. The Pope expressed his hope that the celebration would strengthen family bonds and friendships and bring serenity to homes and societies. He prayed that it might become “an opportunity to look to the future together, building peace and prosperity for all peoples.”
