Pope Francis has donated EUR 100,000 (around Php 5.8M) to the victims of Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) in Visayas, Mindanao and Palawan Island.
In a statement, the Holy See Press Office said the donation is “intended to be an immediate expression of the Holy Father’s feeling of spiritual closeness and paternal encouragement towards the people and territories affected.”
Pope Francis is one of heads of state who personally expressed condolences to the Filipino when Typhoon Odette wreaked havoc to 8 million of Filipinos in 11 affected regions last December 12, 2021. Seven days after the typhoon during Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope asked the faithful to pray to the Philippines before Sto. Niño and with invocation of the protection of Virgin Mary.
United Nations Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez said after months of assessment, they can say that Typhoon Odette damage is comparable to Supertyphoon Yolanda in 2013. It forced 2.7 million people from their homes, damaging almost 1.4 million houses, and affecting 514 towns and cities, 100 of which still have power outages or no power at all. Papal Nuncio to Manila Archbishop Charles John Brown also visited Siargao Island on Christmas Day.
“Following Typhoon Rai, which hit the Philippines with extraordinary vehemence, affecting – according to United Nations sources – about 8 million people in 11 regions, and causing extensive material damage, Pope Francis has decided to send an initial contribution of 100,000 euros for the relief of the population, through the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development,” the Holy See said.
The Vatican said Pope Francis’ donation will be coursed to the local churches, specifically for dioceses most affected by the disaster, in the Philippines. The Apostolic Nunciature in the Philippines will collaborate with the Vatican in distributing the money.
“This contribution, which accompanies the prayer in support of the beloved Filipino population, is part of the aid that is being activated throughout the Catholic Church and which involves numerous charitable organisations, in addition to various Episcopal Conferences,” the Holy See said.
Aside from the Typhoon Odette victims in the Philippines, Pope Francis also donated EUR 100,000 euros to migrants stranded between Poland and Belarus, and in aid to Caritas Polska to deal with the migration emergency on the border between the two countries.