Pope Leo XIV has offered his deep condolences and “spiritual solidarity” to those affected by a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara region on Saturday, 15 August. In a formal telegram sent to Archbishop Paulus Budi Kleden, SVD, of Ende, and signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pontiff expressed his profound sadness over the devastation and assured the displaced, injured, and grieving populations of his spiritual closeness.
The natural disaster has left a trail of significant human loss and destruction across the region. According to provisional reports, the death toll has reached 53, with at least 135 individuals injured and approximately 13,000 residents left homeless. The original quake, centered near the island of Flores, triggered a series of strong aftershocks, which were followed hours later by a separate 6.9-magnitude tremor striking the island of Sumatra.
Beyond the immediate human toll, the seismic activity caused extensive physical destruction. Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency reported that more than 900 homes were completely destroyed and another 450 suffered severe damage. Furthermore, at least 167 public facilities—including local schools, healthcare centers, and churches—have been rendered unsafe or unusable, forcing thousands of displaced survivors to seek temporary shelter.
In his message, Pope Leo praised the ongoing humanitarian and recovery efforts, offering explicit encouragement to civil and ecclesial authorities working to assist affected communities. Praying for the emergency personnel and first responders on the front lines, the Pope commended the souls of the deceased to divine mercy while invoking blessings of strength and consolation for all those impacted by the tragedy.