Disasters

The Latest

Construction crews attend to the collapsed cars of the elevated metro line in Mexico City, May 4, 2021. Credit: Nick_John_07/Shutterstock.

Priest gave general absolution to Mexico City metro victims

May 5, 2021

By David Ramos

Fr. Juan Ortiz has said he managed to reach the scene of the accident on a metro overpass in Mexico... Read more

Papua New Guinea. Photo courtesy of Fr. Christian Sieland.

Capuchins raise funds for victims of Papua New Guinea earthquake

Mar 11, 2018

As Papua New Guinea begins to recover from a major earthquake, the Capuchin Province of St. Conrad is raising funds... Read more

 Pope Francis baptizes Hojin Lee on August 17, 2014.

Korean man takes name of 'Francis' at baptism by Pope

Aug 17, 2014

On Sunday morning Pope Francis baptized 62-year-old Lee Ho-Jin – the father of one of the victims from the Sewol... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday General Audience, May 21, 2014.

Pope Francis to baptize father of Korean ferry disaster victim

Aug 14, 2014

This Saturday Pope Francis will baptize 62-year-old Lee Ho-Jin, the father of one of the victims from the Sewol Ferry... Read more

Pope Francis arrives in Seoul, South Korea August 14, 2014.

Pope greets father of youth who died but dreamed of being priest

Aug 14, 2014

Among the people who greeted Pope Francis at his arrival in South Korea was a father of an adolescent who... Read more

Flag of Colombia.

Condolences offered for death of 32 children in Colombian bus fire

May 19, 2014

Cardinal Ruben Salazar of Bogota, president of the Bishops' Conference of Colombia, offered his prayers and condolences for the families... Read more

CNA

Pope fervently praying for apartment gas explosion victims

Aug 8, 2013

Pope Francis is “deeply saddened” to hear about the 11 people killed and 60 injured by a natural gas explosion... Read more

A rescue worker sifts through the crash scene outside of Santiago de Compostela, Spain on July 25, 2013. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images News.

Pope 'deeply moved' by train crash in Spain

Jul 25, 2013

Pope Francis is praying for the victims and families of the 77 people who have died in a train derailment... Read more

Repairs on the walls of St. Virgilius Catholic Church in the Broad Channel neighborhood of Queens.

Bill helping Sandy-wrecked worship houses draws praise

Jul 13, 2013

By Carl Bunderson

Religious leaders have praised senators who introduced a bill this week which would ensure that houses of worship are not... Read more

Cross memorial at fire station 7 in Prescott, Arizona.

Arizona parish finds hope in wake of tragedies

Jul 10, 2013

As the city of Prescott, Ariz. grieves the loss of nineteen elite firefighters, Sacred Heart Catholic Parish is also coping... Read more

CNA

Pope offers 'deep sympathy' to Quebec train victims, families

Jul 10, 2013

Pope Francis said he is uniting himself in prayer with the victims of the unusual train explosion that killed at... Read more

CNA

Knights of Columbus to help devastated Texas town

Apr 19, 2013

The Knights of Columbus have announced a donation drive to help the community of West, Texas after a massive fertilizer... Read more

Locals console each other after a fertilizer plant explosion n West, Texas.

Austin diocese responds to Texas plant explosion

Apr 18, 2013

As the state reacts to a massive fertilizer plant explosion, Pope Francis and Bishop Joseph S. Vasquez of Austin have... Read more

CNA

Pope uses Twitter to mobilize prayers for Texas victims

Apr 18, 2013

Pope Francis tweeted a prayer request for the victims of a fertilizer plant explosion in Texas.  Read more

CNA

Cuban Church urges continued aid for Hurricane Sandy victims

Nov 20, 2012

The Archdiocese of Santiago in Cuba is calling on the international community to continue helping the thousands of victims of... Read more

Catholic Charities Disaster Relief Distribution sites in Wildwood and Northfield, NJ continued relief operations Nov. 6.

Hurricane Sandy efforts move from relief to recovery

Nov 18, 2012

By Carl Bunderson

Dioceses in the mid-Atlantic are starting to move their Hurricane Sandy relief efforts to a focus on recovery, 18 days... Read more

CNA

Church in Guatemala reaches out to earthquake victims

Nov 8, 2012

A relief network operated by the local Catholic Church has launched operations to help the victims of a Nov. 7... Read more

The cross of St. Mary's Catholic church surrounded by the frame of the former parish. Courtesy of Show Me the Ozarks Magazine by photographer Doug Hunt.

Signs of hope one year after Joplin tornado

May 22, 2012

By Kevin J. Jones

As the residents of tornado-ravaged Joplin, Mo. mark the one-year anniversary of the disaster that hit their community, a diocesan... Read more

A downed tree outside of St. Francis Catholic Church in Henryville, Ind.

Indiana Catholics respond to ‘devastating’ storm damage

Mar 5, 2012

By Kevin J. Jones

Indiana Catholics are committed to helping victims recover from the March 2 outburst of tornadoes that killed at least 13 people in... Read more