Pope Francis has offered his prayers and solidarity to the people of the Philippines following the devastation left by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, which hit parts of Luzon, including Calabarzon and the Bicol Region. Speaking during his Angelus address at the Vatican on Sunday, October 27, the Pope conveyed his sympathy for those impacted by the storm, emphasizing his closeness to the “population of the Philippines, struck by a powerful cyclone,” according to a report by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). “May the Lord support that people, so full of faith,” he said.
As of October 28, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported 116 fatalities attributed to the storm, with ten confirmed and others pending verification. The storm affected approximately 6.7 million people across over 10,000 barangays, displacing nearly a million individuals who sought shelter in thousands of evacuation centers nationwide. Additionally, Kristine left a trail of extensive damage, estimated at P2.5 billion for agriculture and P1.5 billion for infrastructure, prompting over 160 cities and municipalities to declare a state of calamity.
In solidarity, the Israel Embassy in the Philippines expressed sympathy for the victims of Kristine. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the families who have lost loved ones and offer our prayers for the injured,” the embassy shared in a statement, adding, “To our Filipino friends, we stand with you in spirit and prayer as you navigate through this challenging time.”
