Pope prays for victims of Iranian earthquake

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis says he is praying for the victims of the earthquake that struck southern Iran Tuesday. Speaking at the end of his Wednesday Audience the Holy Father expressed his closeness to all those affected by the devastating quake that caused widespread damage.


Iranian media reported that 850 people were injured in the 6.3 magnitude quake that destroyed homes and devastated two small villages near the city of Bushehr, home to the nation’s only operational nuclear plant.


According to Iranian officials and the Russian company that built it, the power plant was not damaged.


Many houses in rural parts of the province are made of mud bricks, which have been known to crumble easily in quake-prone Iran.