Vatican City, Apr 28, 2009 / 08:33 am
Italians in the Abruzzo region are still recovering from the devastating earthquake that struck the area northeast of Rome on April 6, killing 300 and injuring thousands. Tuesday morning Pope Benedict visited victims of the disaster, and said his "poor presence" is intended as a "tangible sign of the fact that the crucified Lord is risen and does not abandon you."
The Holy Father was originally scheduled to travel to the region by helicopter, thus enabling him to survey some of the damage from the earthquake, but poor weather forced the Pontiff to take a car.
The first stage of his visit took him to the village of Onna, where he spoke to the people living in temporary shelters.
The Pope noted that the village was "one of the places that paid a high price in terms of human lives," and said that he was close to the victims "from the first moment." "I followed the news with great concern, sharing your disbelief, your tears for the dead, and your anxious concerns for what you lost in an instant."