Following the recitation of the midday Angelus prayer from Castel Gandolfo on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV strongly condemned a recent massacre in Haiti, issued an urgent appeal for the immediate release of all hostages, and renewed his call for international assistance to aid Nepal following catastrophic floods and mudslides that have left hundreds dead and thousands missing.
Addressing the situation in the Caribbean nation, the Pope expressed deep sorrow over reports coming from Kenscoff, where numerous individuals were killed and others kidnapped in a violent attack. Offering his prayers to the victims and their families, Pope Leo XIV urged those holding the captives to free them without delay while appealing to political and local authorities to protect the civilian population and end the escalating violence.
Turning to Asia, Pope Leo XIV assured the victims of widespread flooding across Nepal and Tibet of his continuous prayers. Recognizing the work of local search and rescue teams, he invited the global faithful to pray for the deceased, the injured, the missing, and their grieving families, while calling on the international community to unite in bringing swift aid to alleviate the region’s immense suffering.
In a tangible gesture of solidarity, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV, through the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, has dispatched direct financial assistance to Caritas Nepal. Coordinated via the Apostolic Nunciature of Nepal, this funding directly supports immediate relief operations—including the distribution of food, emergency shelter, and essential supplies to displaced families who have lost everything.
The Pope’s public appeal follows a official telegram sent earlier in the week by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, in which the Pontiff formally offered his condolences for the widespread destruction. As relief operations continue, local authorities report that the combined death toll between Nepal and Tibet has exceeded 700 people, with at least 3,000 individuals still unaccounted for.