APPEAL FOR VICTIMS OF CENTRAL AMERICAN EARTHQUAKE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 14, 2001 (VIS) - At the end of the angelus today, John Paul II made an appeal for the victims of yesterday's devastating earthquake in Central America:

"News has arrived, over the last few hours, of a disastrous earthquake that hit Central America causing numerous victims, especially in El Salvador, as well as hundreds of injured and vast material damage. I wish to express my spiritual closeness to the peoples hit by the tremor in that region which is so dear to me. While raising a heartfelt prayer to the Lord for the victims, I give my warmest encouragement to the survivors, in the hope that the shared concern of the international community may move them to help. May this solidarity produce the help necessary to relieve the consequences of the tragedy."

Today, Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano sent a telegram in the Pope's name to Archbishop Fernando Saenz Lacalle of San Salvador and president of the Episcopal Conference of El Salvador.

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