Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Pope Visits Earthquake Victims

L'Aquila will 'arise once more,' Pope declares


Pope Benedict greets Italians in the quake-devastated region of Abruzzo

L'Aquila, Italy, Apr 28, 2009 / 10:52 am (CNA).- Touring the earthquake-damaged Abruzzo region of Italy on Tuesday, Pope Benedict met with rescue workers and those impacted by the quake. During an address to the victims, he assured them of his solidarity and encouraged them saying, “L'Aquila, though wounded, will arise once more."

At midday, when the Holy Father arrived in the courtyard of the training school of the “Finance Guard,” he addressed the Italian rescue workers as well as those affected in the region. Over 300 died and thousands were injured in the April 6 earthquake.

Benedict XVI began by noting that the training school courtyard served as the headquarters for rescue operations following the earthquake.

“This place, consecrated by the victims' prayers and tears, represents a symbol of your tenacious determination not to give way to discouragement." Quoting then the motto of the Finance Guard - "Nec recisa recedit" (Will not back down, even if destroyed) - he pointed out that it "seems to express well what the mayor defined as your firm intention to rebuild the city, with that constancy which characterizes you people of the Abruzzo region."
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Pope demands soul-searching after Italy quake


Associated Press Tue Apr 28, 6:42 AM ET

Pope Benedict XVI is flanked by a firefighter as he looks at a collapsed student dorm in L'Aquila, central Italy, Tuesday, April 28, 2009. Benedict XVI visited the region in central Italy ravaged by this month's earthquake, offering words of comfort to the survivors and calling for the rebirth of the area. The April 6 quake claimed 296 lives and hit 26 towns and villages in the Abruzzo region in the Apennine mountains. The 6.3-magnitude quake drove around 50,000 from their homes and toppled or heavily damaged thousands of buildings across the region.
(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

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AP via Yahoo! News
By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Writer – 26 mins ago

L'AQUILA, Italy – Pope Benedict XVI embraced the survivors of Italy's deadly earthquake Tuesday as he walked through their muddy tent camp and demanded "serious soul-searching" from those responsible for the shoddy construction blamed for many of the 296 deaths.

In his first visit to central Italy since the April 6 quake, Benedict toured the three symbols of destruction that have come to epitomize the region's grief: the leveled hamlet of Onna, where 40 of the 300 residents died, the crumbled basilica of L'Aquila, and the ruins of a university dormitory whose collapse has spurred criminal probes into negligence.

Showing a relaxed, pastoral side rarely seen in the Vatican's typically controlled appearances, Benedict prayed with the quake's homeless in the rain, telling them that the church was suffering along with them and that they should keep up hope and rebuild, better than before.

But at the same time, he told them that "As a civil community, some serious soul-searching is necessary, so that at any moment responsibilities never fail."

"If this happens, L'Aquila — though wounded — will be able to fly again," Benedict said, referring to the city's name, eagle.

The 6.3-magnitude quake claimed 296 lives in the dozens of towns and villages in the Abruzzo region of central Italy affected. About 50,000 people were driven from their homes, and thousands of buildings were toppled or heavily damaged.
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See also:

"
Pope Benedict XVI visits Abruzzo earthquake zone to pray for victims"

"
The Abruzzo Region Will Rise Again"

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