Pope Leo XIV offers prayers to earthquake victims in Venezuela

Pope Leo XIV, speaking this Saturday (27), mentioned the victims of Wednesday's earthquake (24) in Venezuela, their families and those involved in relief operations, and expressed the hope that global solidarity with Venezuela will endure.

Leo delivered his message on Venezuela after an extraordinary two-day consistory, in which hundreds of cardinals from around the world traveled to Rome to pray and discuss the international situation, peace and overcoming the "just war" theory.

At least 1,430 people died amid the earthquakes that hit the country, reported the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, this Saturday.

Another 3,200 people were injured and 3,142 were left homeless by the disaster, he added on state television.

Since Wednesday's magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, 430 aftershocks have been recorded in the country, with the state of La Guaira being the most affected region.

Rodríguez added that at least 7,500 medical screenings were carried out and more than 12,000 services were provided in the area affected by the tremors.

Estimates from the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) show that the tremors are expected to cause economic losses equivalent to US$6.7 billion to the South American country.

Understand how the strength of earthquakes is measured

Source: CNN