Matters India reporter
Yangon, April 24, 2019: Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC) president Charles Cardinal Maung Bo has sent a message of prayerful solidarity to Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines that was devastated by earthquakes on April 22 and 23.
The first tremor, a magnitude 6.1 quake, hit the Southeast Asian archipelago’s Luzon Island on April 22. Next afternoon, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake with a depth of 86.3km was registered on the island of Samar in central Philippines.
“It is with deep sorrow that I heard about the multiple earthquakes that hit your nation and took the lives of some 20 people, injuring hundreds, and several people reported missing,” wrote Salesian Cardinal Bo from Myanmar.
Cardinal Bo continued, “Allow me to express my sincere anguish at this tragedy that has taken the toll on so many human lives in your country just as we are coping with heinous attacks on Christians in Sri Lanka which has left us all numbed of comprehension.”
The cardinal, who has experienced both natural and national disasters, was quick to respond with a prayer for all involved saying, “As I place my humble prayers for all the victims of this natural calamity, I also pray for the victims, survivors, care givers and relief agents.”
The cardinal concluded his brief letter extending, “the prayers of Brother Bishops and Faithful of all member countries of the Federation of the Asia Bishops’ Conference for your suffering people.”
The FABC has 19 Episcopal Conferences representing 27 countries in Asia.