Pope prays for victims of earthquake in Venezuela

Pope Leo XIV addressed the crowds in Spanish to express his care and closeness to Venezuelans who have been mourning the loss of their loved ones since the devastating earthqualkes that struck on June 24 .

The death toll continues to rise following the two earthquakes that irreparably devastated La Guaira, the epicenter of the disaster about 40 kilometers from the capital, Caracas.

“I continue to remember in my prayers the victims of the earthquake and all the Venezuelan people. May the Lord sustain them in this time of great hardship.”

The country has now registered nearly 3,000 deaths from the twin earthquakes, one of the most powerful and devastating disasters in Latin America. Many displaced people are still living on the streets or in makeshift shelters under precarious conditions, while international rescue teams are gradually ending their search for survivors trapped beneath the rubble.