There is a stunning story from India, as you will read below. I cannot wrap my mind around these numbers! How does one even help this many people! They need homes, food, clothing, medicine, sanitary facilities and a ton of other things, I am sure, but all I could think of as I read this report is that we absolutely must pray for the displaced and for those trying to help them.
POPE RECEIVES PAPUA NEW GUINEA PILGRIMS
From Holy See Press Office: This morning in the Santa Marta residence, the Holy Father received a pilgrimage of faithful from Papua New Guinea, led by Fr. Martin Prado, an IVE missionary and their parish priest. During the audience, the pilgrims spoke of the situation in their country and performed some songs of their land. At the end of the meeting the Pope gave them his blessing. (Vatican media photo)
POPE FRANCIS MAKES SURPRISE VISIT TO AILING NUN
Pope Francis visited an elderly nun at the Daughters of Charity’s house in Rome on Sunday, a gesture of kindness for her years of service at the Casa Santa Marta.
By Devin Watkins (vaticannews)
Sister Maria Mucci spent many years serving Pope Francis, as well as numerous Vatican visitors, at the Casa Santa Marta.
Having fallen ill, she is now in the infirmary at her congregation’s house in Rome, the Regina Mundi House. So, on Sunday evening, Pope Francis popped in for a quick visit to the ailing nun. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/pope-francis-surprise-visit-daughters-of-charity-rome.html
He also paused for a picture with members of the Daughters of Charity community staffing the residence, along with employees and guests. At the end of his visit, the Holy Father gave them all his blessing.
Fr. Tomaž Mavrič, CM, the Order’s Superior General, announced the news on his Facebook page.
Venerating his predecessor’s relic
Another special moment occurred when Pope Francis contemplated a relic of his predecessor, Pope St. John Paul II. The relic is the bloodstained shirt worn by the Polish Pope when he was shot by a gunman in St. Peter’s Square on 13 May 1981.
Gemelli Hospital, having treated Pope John Paul II after the assassination attempt, later gifted his bloodied shirt to the Regina Mundi House, where it is now venerated.
127 KILLED, 8 MILLION DISPLACED IN FLOODS IN INDIA
ucanews.com, Bhopal, India -July 30, 2019 – At least 127 people were killed and an astounding eight million displaced after rivers in Nepal burst their banks in the latest monsoons and swept through villages in the eastern Indian state of Bihar.
Catholic social work departments in the area are struggling to provide basic amenities to the affected such as temporary shelter, drinking water and sanitation facilities.
“Millions have been badly hit after the flood situation worsened over the past week,” said Bishop Cajetan Francis Osta of Muzaffarpur, the worst affected area.
Eleven of the 13 flood-hit districts are in the area of Muzaffarpur, which has been working with Caritas India.
“Our social work department is doing its best to provide tarpaulins, mosquito nets, bedsheets, soap and drinking water,” said Bishop Osta.
FOR MORE: https://www.ucanews.com/news/state-of-horror-millions-homeless-127-killed-in-bihar/85752
Joan's Rome 