Pope Leo XIV has directed €100,000 to be sent through the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Service of Charity to assist victims of the powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10. Coordinated by Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín alongside the Apostolic Nunciature and Colombian Episcopal Conference (CEC) President Archbishop Javier Múnera, the funding will be managed by Caritas Colombia to distribute immediate relief and address the most urgent needs across severely affected dioceses, including Pereira, Cali, and Quibdó.
The Vatican noted that this financial package serves as an initial response, with additional relief to be allocated as regional authorities finalize evaluations of the damage. Speaking during his General Audience, Pope Leo XIV expressed his deep closeness to the Colombian people, offering prayers for the deceased, their grieving families, and those injured in what the Colombian government has described as the country’s strongest earthquake of the 21st century.
In the wake of the disaster, which caused widespread structural destruction and loss of life across several departments, the Colombian government declared three days of national mourning. Local Church entities and government emergency services continue to collaborate on rescue operations, ongoing damage assessments, and the coordination of long-term aid for displaced communities.