Reuters reported that an estimated 42,000 people have been killed and over 100,000 people have been injured in the disaster. Approximately 2.4 million people are displaced from their homes.
Francis received the new ambassador of Turkey to the Holy See, Ufuk Ulutaş, at the Vatican on Feb. 16. During the meeting, the pope also hand-wrote a brief message of encouragement to Turkey.
“My thoughts and prayers go to the noble Turkish people at this time of such sorrow,” the note said. “Dear brothers and sisters, I am close to you and I pray [for you]. With fraternal affection, Franciscus.”
Gugerotti’s schedule in Syria and Turkey includes meetings with local Church leaders and Catholic charities.
He will fly into Beirut, Lebanon, and from there transfer by car to Aleppo, Syria, where he will visit places sheltering people left homeless by the earthquakes.
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