Cardinal Czerny visits Valencia to bring Pope’s solidarity to all affected by Storm Dana

By Salvatore Cernuzio

A week after his visit to Valencia, Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development, still cannot erase the haunting images left by the Dana flood. On November 15 and 16, he visited the Spanish city devastated in late October by heavy rains and floods, a disaster that cost more than 200 lives, left countless missing and destroyed homes, businesses, bridges and subway systems. Just as he did during his visit to Ukraine after the outbreak of war in 2022, as well as to crisis regions such as parts of the Amazon and parts of Africa, Czerny brought the message of closeness and solidarity of Pope Francis.

During his trip to Spain, he also visited towns near Valencia, including Alfafar, Benetússer, Catarroja, La Torre, Picanya and Paiporta, the epicenter of the tragedy. Helaida a flower in front of the image of Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados (Our Lady of the Abandoned), patroness of Valencia, to honor all those who were affected by the storm.

“Car Graveyards”

In an interview with Vatican Media, Cardinal Czerny shared his impressions, emotions and observations from his two-day visit. “The physical destruction is overwhelming. We saw watermarks in churches, schools and homes that ranged between 2 and 4 meters in height. Entire neighborhoods were washed away, leaving debris testifying to the power of the flood.” , he explained. What shocked him most was the sight of more than 100,000 destroyed vehicles: “There were ‘graveyards’ of cars stacked on top of each other, and deformed metal, showing the force of the water”.

The Church, first to open its doors

In Valencia, Cardinal Czerny met with local people, including government officials, priests, families of victims, volunteers and Archbishop Enrique Benavent Vidal, who visited each affected parish. Many residents expressed their deep gratitude to the Church, which was “the first to open its doors and become a ‘field hospital'”, which contrasts sharply with the slow response of the public authorities. “People told us they received emergency alerts on their phones hours after the disaster had already occurred,” Cardinal Czerny noted.

Response from volunteers

Cardinal Czerny called some survival stories “providential.” In one case, people narrowly escaped by moving to upper floors just before floodwaters engulfed their homes. “These stories of survival are deeply moving and suggest divine protection in the midst of this tragedy,” he said.

He was also inspired by the extraordinary response from volunteers: “We met a young American woman, a high-level professional, who came to volunteer. His father and two younger brothers, having heard of the disaster, immediately traveled from the United States to Their selflessness was a powerful example of the universal call to service that transcends borders and cultures.

During his speech, Pope Francis again asked for prayers and solidarity for Valencia, encouraging not only material aid but also spiritual support to those affected by the disaster.

Churches as centers of help and hope

One of Czerny’s most memorable sights was seeing Valencia’s churches transformed into makeshift food distribution centers. “With stores closed, these sacred spaces have become essential for distributing aid and serving as places of compassion, faith and hope in the midst of immense suffering,” he said. “In those moments we saw Christ leave the tabernacle and become present, not in a sacramental way, but in the people who suffered and in those who served them.”

The sight of priests, nuns and volunteers working tirelessly in the mud, counseling traumatized people, distributing food and offering comfort was a powerful and inspiring testimony, Cardinal Czerny reflected.

Priests and missionaries at work

Cardinal Czerny also highlighted the dynamic spirit of the young priests of Valencia, whom he described as “true missionaries”. They not only provided material support, but also spiritually uplifted the thousands of volunteers who came to help. “They provided comfort, encouragement and relief with incredible dedication,” he said. Nuns, dressed in rubber boots and mud-stained habits, worked side by side with young volunteers and Caritas staff.

One particularly moving scene features a young father and his 10-year-old son volunteering together. “The father was teaching his son the true meaning of Christian service,” Cardinal Czerny remarked.

Mass for the victims

In Paiporta, Czerny concelebrated mass at the Church of Saint George the Martyr with Archbishop Benavent, Vicar Jesús Corbí Vidagañ and almost all the priests of the parishes involved. Mass was offered for the deceased and those who are still suffering. Hundreds of people attended and the service became a time to reaffirm the Church’s continued presence and support for the community.

Cardinal Czerny also observed powerful symbols of resilience, such as statues of Christ, the Virgin Mary and saints that had been swept away by floodwaters but were later recovered, some still intact but covered in mud.

The path to healing

The road to rebuilding Valencia is long and uncertain. “For many, recovery will be almost impossible,” Czerny admitted, noting that mom-and-pop stores and small businesses may never reopen. However, hope endures, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Church, which continues to bring God’s grace and work to heal the bodies, minds and spirits of those affected by this devastating disaster.