VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis offered prayers on Sunday for the victims of an earthquake that shook vast areas of Ecuador and parts of Peru.
During his weekly blessing on Sunday afternoon, Francis recalled that the magnitude 6.8 quake caused “death, injury and extensive damage.”
“I am close to the Ecuadorian people and assure them of my prayers for the dead and suffering,” said Francis.
Saturday’s earthquake killed at least 15 people, injured hundreds and destroyed homes and buildings in vastly different communities from coastal areas to the highlands. At least one of the dead was in Peru.
