Pope Francis expressed
"great pain" after a devastating earthquake left scores dead and
injured in a mountainous region of central Italy. "I cannot but
express my great pain and say I am with the people present in
all the places stricken by the seism, to all those who have lost
loved ones and those who still feel shaken by fear," he said,
adding he was "greatly affected" after hearing the mountain
village of Amatrice was razed to the ground and that children
are among the casualties. Francis spoke in St. Peter's Square,
where 11,000 faithful had gathered for a customary general
hearing on Wednesday. Among them was a group of 45 Iraqi
pilgrims.
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