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Pope Francis delivers his traditional Urbi et Orbi Christmas Day address to the city and the world practically from inside the Hall of Blessings rather than from St. Peter’s Square to limit the number of people who gather due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at the Vatican, December 25, 2020. Vatican Media / Handout via REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines – On Christmas Day, Pope Francis prayed for the protection of typhoon victims in the Philippines and Vietnam amid the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic.
May the King of Heaven protect all victims of natural disasters in Southeast Asia, especially in the Philippines and Vietnam, where numerous storms have caused flooding, with devastating repercussions on families in terms of loss of life, damage to the environment and consequences for the local population. economies, ”Pope Francis said in his traditional Urbi et Orbi Christmas Day address in Vatican City on Friday.
Apart from the pandemic, the Filipinos also suffered the brunt of the impacts of three strong typhoons this year.
During the first days of November, areas of Luzon were hit by Typhoon Rolly, which was described as the strongest typhoon in the world.
After Rolly, Typhoon Ulysses struck areas in Region II, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Metro Manila, and the Cordillera Administrative Region last November. Authorities said the typhoon killed more than 73 people.
Meanwhile, Typhoon Vicky killed nine people and displaced thousands of families in parts of Visayas and Mindanao this December.
The Pope also urged the leaders of nations and other stakeholders to coordinate and distribute COVID-19 vaccines for all, especially the most vulnerable.
“I ask everyone – government leaders, companies, international organizations – to promote cooperation and not competition, and to seek a solution for all: vaccines for all, especially for the most vulnerable and needy in all regions of the planet. Before everyone else: the most vulnerable and needy! “Francis said.
At Christmas, the Health Department recorded 1,885 new cases of the severe respiratory illness, bringing the total count of COVID-19 infections to 467,601. Of the total cases, 430,791 are recoveries, while 9,062 are deaths.
EDV
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