Pope prays for victims of floods in Asia, renews calls for peace

By Christopher Wells

After Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the people of Vietnam and Myanmar who are suffering the effects of Typhoon Yagi.

The storm triggered flooding and landslides in northern Vietnam, leaving nearly 200 people dead and 128 missing. On Friday, at least 74 people died and dozens more were missing after heavy rains caused widespread flooding in the country.

“I pray for the dead, the wounded and the displaced,” the pope said Sunday. “May God sustain those who have lost loved ones and their homes, and bless those who bring aid.”

“Stop the violence! Stop the hate!”

The Holy Father also launched a renewed appeal for world peace: “Let us not forget the wars that bloody the world,” citing in particular Ukraine, Myanmar and the Middle East.

The Pope lamented “so many innocent victims… mothers who lost their children in wars… so many innocent lives taken.”

He recalled his meeting with Rachel Goldberg Polin, whose son, Hersh, was taken hostage by Hamas in October last year and whose body, along with those of five other hostages, was found in August 2024.

“I am accompanying him at this moment,” Pope Francis said, adding that he prays for the victims and remains close to all the families of those still held hostage.

In a heartfelt appeal, the Pope declared: “Let the conflict in Palestine and Israel cease! Let the violence cease! Let the hatred cease!” He then called for the release of the hostages, the continuation of negotiations and the search for peaceful solutions.

Other remedies

The Pope also recalled on Sunday the beatification, the day before in Mexico, of Father Moises Lira Serafin, founder of the Missionaries of Charity of Mary Immaculate, who died in 1950 “after a life spent helping people to progress in faith and love of the Lord.”

“May his apostolic zeal stimulate and inspire priests to give themselves unreservedly for the spiritual good of the people of God,” the Pope said, calling for applause for the new blessed.

Finally, the Holy Father paid tribute to all those suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, sometimes called “Lou Gehrig’s disease”, on the occasion of the day dedicated to them in Italy. The Pope assured them of his prayers for them and their families, and encouraged research aimed at combating this disease, as well as voluntary organizations that help those affected.