Pope Makes Appeal for Flooded Pakistan

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 18, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Recalling the "harshly tested" people of Pakistan, Benedict XVI today made an appeal for solidarity with the flood-ravaged nation.

Pakistan saw its most devastating monsoon rainy season in decades, which caused flooding that brought as many as 2,000 deaths and affected another 20 million people. The area affected by the floods is about the size of England.

"My thoughts go at this moment to the beloved peoples of Pakistan, affected recently by great floods, which have caused numerous victims and left many families homeless," the Pope said. "While I entrust to the merciful goodness of God all those who have passed away so tragically, I express my spiritual closeness to their families and to all those suffering because of this calamity.

"May these brothers of ours, so harshly tested, not lack our solidarity and the concrete aid of international solidarity."

The Church's charity organization, Caritas Internationalis, launched an appeal for $5.5 million and is working to distribute food, provide clean water, shelter and hygiene facilities, as well as constructing a plan to help reconstruct infrastructure such as roads and bridges.