Pope donates € 100,000 for Earthquake victims

May 26, 2012: Pope Benedict XVI has donated € 100,000 to the relief of earthquake victims of Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, revealed a Vatican Press release on Saturday. An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy in the early hours on Sunday, May 20.

The earthquake particularly affected the dioceses of Carpi, Mantua, Modena and Ferrara-Comacchio-Nonantola, and that the Pontiff wanted to send a special contribution through the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Press release stated.

The contribution will be divided between the dioceses affected by the disasters, in support of the activities undertaken by the Catholic Church for the victims. It is a concrete expression of the feelings of spiritual closeness and paternal solicitude the Supreme Pontiff has for the people affected by the earthquake, the statement added.
According to the latest news reports, at least seven people were reported to have died in the quake, and over 50 are reported to have been injured with a number of people still missing. More than 3000 persons have been displaced as a result of the quake and are being given temporary shelter by local authorities.