(April, 15,2009): Prayers, praise and a large sum of money were showered by a top
Italian Church official on the people of Italy’s central Abruzzo region hit
by the terrible earthquake of April 6, that killed over 290 people. Cardinal Angelo
Bagnasco – President of the Italian Bishops Conference visited on Tuesday, the areas
totally destroyed by the earthquake that has rendered hundreds of thousand homeless,
many of whom are living either in Adriatic coastal hotels or in 106 tented villages,
as after-shocks continue to hit the region. Cardinal Bagnasco announced that
an additional sum of two million Euro will be given as aid to assist the suffering
people. A few days earlier, the Italian Bishops had allotted a sum of 3 million Euro.
Cardinal Bagnasco also said that this Sunday’s collection will be given as aid to
the suffering people who have lost everything, including their homes. Spending
all of Tuesday visiting the worst hit places in the historic town of Aquila, among
them schools, churches and hospitals, Cardinal Bagnasco concluded his Tuesday visit
with a Mass. He prayed for the dead, expressed his admiration for the dignified
way the people of the Abruzzo region were facing the big challenge, and conveyed
the solidarity and prayers of all the communities of Italy. He thanked the firemen
and hundreds of volunteers who had rushed to rescue the people, even as houses tumbled.
He said Pope Benedict XVI was close to them in prayers and would be visiting them
soon.