On Sunday, Pope Francis remembered the victims of the recent earthquake in Nepal which has claimed the lives of nearly 2,000 people

On Sunday, Pope Francis remembered the victims of the recent earthquake in Nepal which has claimed the lives of nearly 2,000 people

After the recitation of the Regina Coeli prayer with the crowds gathered in Saint Peter’s Square, the Holy Father expressed his “closeness to the populations struck by a powerful earthquake in Nepal and neighbouring countries.”

The Pope said: “I pray for the victims, for the wounded, and for all those who suffer because of this calamity.”

More than 1,900 people were killed and 5,000 wounded when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Himalayan nation of Nepal on Saturday, destroying the country’s infrastructure, homes, and historical buildings.

The earthquake was the worst to hit the South Asian nation in over 80 years.

Pope Francis said of those affected by the disaster: “May they be supported by fraternal solidarity.

The Holy Father then prayed that the Blessed Mother would be close those affected by the earthquake, and led the crowds in reciting the Hail Mary.

Earlier, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin sent a telegram on behalf of Pope Francis to Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal, Paul Simick, expressing his condolences for those affected by the earthquake.

Radio Vaticana