Pope tells Asians God has not foresaken them
VATICAN CITY (AFP) - Pope John Paul II again sought to comfort the
victims of the Asian tsunami disaster saying that God had not
abandoned them in their hour of need.
"Faith teaches us that even during the most difficult and painful
of tests, such as the calamities which hit Southeast Asia in the
past days, God will never abandon us," the pope told a large crowd
who had gathered for the weekly Angelus.
"God makes his presence known in applying his commandment" to love
your neighbour, the pope said, referring to the global aid effort
launched to help the millions of people around the Indian Ocean
nations affected by the disaster.
"This evangelical message is based on the hope of a better world,
providing we walk in God's love," the pope added.
On Saturday, John Paul remembered the victims of the disaster in
his New Year's prayers as the death toll climbed over
127,000.
"I address once again my thoughts to the people hit by the tragic
calamity of recent days," he told thousands from the window of his
apartments overlooking St Peter's Square.
"I assure them of my prayers for the victims of the catastrophe and
for their families and I take note with satisfaction of the
movement of solidarity which is developing everywhere in the
world."
The 84-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church had addressed a
special greeting to ambassadors of countries hit by the "terrible
calamity" on December 26 when tidal waves struck a half a dozen
countries following a massive earthquake off the Indonesian island
of Sumatra.
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050102/afp/050102140255people.html
