Pope prays for victims of devastating cyclones in Madagascar

[ad_1] After praying the Angelus, Pope Leo expresses his closeness with these reeling from the consequences of the back-to-back cyclones in Madagascar, the place some 16,000 folks have been displaced.

By Kielce Gussie

Following the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV expressed his closeness to the folks of Madagascar, who're affected by the consequences of two cyclones in a brief time frame. “I pray for the victims and their households, and for all those that have suffered severe injury,” he mentioned.

Cyclone season within the Southwest Indian Ocean has been intense this 12 months as Madagascar has declared a nationwide emergency and appealed for worldwide help following cyclones Gezani and Fytia.

<source media="(min-width: 1024px)" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-original-set="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/afp/2026/02/14/19/1771094518287.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1500.844.jpeg 2x, /content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/afp/2026/02/14/19/1771094518287.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg 1x"> <source media="(min-width: 768px)" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-original-set="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/afp/2026/02/14/19/1771094518287.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1000.563.jpeg 2x, /content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/afp/2026/02/14/19/1771094518287.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg 1x"> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-original="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/afp/2026/02/14/19/1771094518287.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" alt="General view of the city center of Toamasina following the passage of tropical cyclone Gezani" title="General view of the city center of Toamasina following the passage of tropical cyclone Gezani"/> Basic view of town heart of Toamasina following the passage of tropical cyclone Gezani (AFP or licensors)

Gezani made landfall on February 10, affecting some 270,000 folks and displacing 1000's. Nationwide authorities have reported a minimum of 40 folks have been killed. Along with the UN and different companions, the nation’s assets have been devoted to go looking and rescue, evacuation, shelter, and meals help.

Lunar New 12 months The Pope additionally famous how billions of individuals in East Asia and different components of the world are gearing as much as rejoice Lunar New 12 months. He shared his hope that “this joyful feast” encourages “extra intense household relationships and friendships; could it carry serenity to properties and to society; and should or not it's a possibility to look to the longer term collectively, constructing peace and prosperity for all peoples.”

<source media="(min-width: 1024px)" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-original-set="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2026/02/14/18/1771091782604.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1500.844.jpeg 2x, /content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2026/02/14/18/1771091782604.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg 1x"> <source media="(min-width: 768px)" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-original-set="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2026/02/14/18/1771091782604.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1000.563.jpeg 2x, /content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2026/02/14/18/1771091782604.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg 1x"> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-original="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2026/02/14/18/1771091782604.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" alt="Lunar New Year procession marking the start of celebrations for the Year of the Horse, in Liverpool" title="Lunar New Year procession marking the start of celebrations for the Year of the Horse, in Liverpool"/> Lunar New 12 months procession marking the beginning of celebrations for the 12 months of the Horse, in Liverpool (Temilade Adelaja)

With Lunar New 12 months being celebrated on February 17, Pope Leo prolonged his good needs and affection to everybody earlier than invoking God’s blessing on everybody.