“In recent days,” Pope Francis noted “the inhabitants of Kerala have been harshly struck by intense rains, which have caused flooding and landslides, with heavy loss of human life, with many people missing and displaced, with extensive damage to crops and homes.” He expressed his closeness to the Church in Kerala, “which is at the forefront of efforts to bring aid to the population.”

Pope Francis

leads pilgrims in St Peter’s Square in prayer
for victims of flooding in India, 19 August 2018.