Papal nuncio to Catholic faithful: Give more help to quake victims

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, is asking the Catholic faithful to give more assistance to the victims of the 6.9 magnitude quake in Negros Oriental, even as he continues praying for them.

“Many have already been done for them, but much more needs to be done,” said Pinto, addressing a crowd of 500 people composed of bishops, priests, lay ministers, and other churchworkers at a welcome dinner tendered for him by the Diocese of Bacolod and the Negros Occidental provincial government at a hotel in this city.

He assured them that he and Pope Benedict XVI are praying for them. “I assure you of the solidarity of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in all your aspirations and trials and that he remembers you in his prayers,” he said.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra also called on several groups conducting distribution of relief goods to the earthquake victims of Negros Oriental to deliver it to the victims faster and avoid politicking. “Channel your aid through the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod to make sure that your donations reach the victims,” he said. - THE FREEMAN