Pope prays for flood victims

Monday, 17 January 2011 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI is calling for sustained relief efforts for those left homeless or isolated by flooding in four countries.

The Pope told pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square Sunday that he was praying for people in Australia, Brazil, the Philippines and Sri Lanka who are suffering because of “devastating” flooding.

He is praying that those helping the people will keep up their relief efforts.

Australia has seen some of its worst flooding in 100 years; mudslides in Brazil have killed more than 600 people, and floods in Sri Lanka have left hundreds of thousands homeless there. The Philippines has been battered by bad weather for weeks.