Pope Leo XIV leads the Angelus prayer, traditional Sunday's prayer, from the window of his office overlooking Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City, Sunday. EPA-Yonhap
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo on Sunday expressed solidarity with people in Venezuela grappling with the devastating impact of twin earthquakes that struck the country earlier this week.
"I wish to express my closeness to the Venezuelan sisters and brothers affected by the recent earthquakes that caused numerous victims and injuries," the pontiff said in Spanish before worshipers gathered for Sunday's Angelus prayer in Rome.
Before becoming pope, Leo spent decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru, a Spanish-speaking country. He is planning a major tour of southern Latin America in November that is expected to include Peru, Argentina and Uruguay.
The pontiff also expressed gratitude to rescuers and all those assisting Venezuelans in the aftermath of the disaster.
