Pope prays for Japan quake victims

(March 14, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI is praying for the victims of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami and has praised the «dignity and courage» with which the Japanese are coping with the tragedy. The Holy Father also encouraged aid workers who are bringing comfort to those afflicted, saying God was with them. “The images of the tragic earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan have left us all deeply moved,” the Pope said during his traditional Sunday midday ‘Angelus’ blessing from his studio window overlooking a rain-swept St. Peter's Square. Japan's prime minister on Sunday called Friday’s disaster Japan's worst crisis since World War II, with the death toll likely to exceed 10,000 in one state alone. There are also fears of radiation leaks from damaged nuclear reactors. Millions have been left without water, electricity or proper food. Speaking in English, Pope Benedict said, “I ask you to join me in praying for the victims of the recent devastation visited upon Japan. May the bereaved and injured be comforted and may the rescue workers be strengthened in their efforts to assist the courageous Japanese people.” “We remain united in prayer. The Lord is with us!" the Holy Father assured. Before reciting the Angelus, the Pope underlined the significance of Lent, the 40-day period that began on Ash Wednesday, last week, in preparation for Easter. The Pope said that Lent, like the cross, exists because there is evil. According to Scriptures sin is the root cause of all evil, a fact that many don’t take seriously, presuming that that 'sin' is incompatible with a religious vision of the world and mankind. The Pontiff argued, “It is indeed true: if you eliminate God from the horizon of the world, one can not speak of sin.” “Like when the sun is hiding, shadows disappear: shadows appear only if there is the sun, so the eclipse of God necessarily leads to the eclipse of sin.” Therefore, the Pope said, the sense of sin is only regained by rediscovering the sense of God, who does not tolerate evil because He is Love, Justice and Loyalty. For this reason He does not want the death of the sinner, but that he be converted and live.