VATICAN - Holy Father recalls Haiti and Nigeria at General Audience

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In the General Audience held on Wednesday, September 29, the Holy Father Benedict XVI expressed his spiritual closeness to the people of Haiti and launched an appeal for the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria. At the close of the catechesis on Saint Mathilda of Hackeborn, a German Cistercian nun, the Pope then greeted the various pilgrim groups present in different languages.
In addressing the French-speaking pilgrims, the Pope said: “I am pleased to welcome this morning the French-speaking pilgrims present here, especially those from Haiti. I continue to keep the Haitians in my prayers, beseeching God to relieve them of their poverty. May your pilgrimage to Rome, dear pilgrims, be for all of you an opportunity to deepen your personal relationship with Christ. May God bless you!”
After the English summary of the catechesis, the Pope made the following appeal for Nigeria, which is now suffering from severe flooding: “My thoughts also turn to the grave humanitarian crisis which has recently struck Northern Nigeria, where some two million people have been forced to flee their homes because of severe flooding. To all those affected I express my spiritual closeness and I assure them of my prayers.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 30/09/2010)