Pope visits 'tent cities' of Italian earthquake victims

|PIC1|The Pope has visited victims of the earthquake which struck the region of Abruzzo just before Easter this year. The earthquake killed almost 300 people, and thousands are still living in tents after their homes were destroyed.

The first stop on his visit was to the village of Onna, where 40 out of the 350 inhabitants were killed by the earthquake.

Security was unusually lax for the visit, with the Pope seen shaking hands with villagers, hugging the elderly and kissing babies. He also blessed a bell which had been saved from a destroyed church.

Approximately 65,000 people are still homeless as a result of the earthquake, with just over half still living in tents in the area and others staying at hotels.

Visiting one of the “tent cities”, Pope Benedict said he had "come in person to your splendid and wounded land, which is suffering times of great pain and vulnerabilitiy".

"I realise that despite the widespread solidarity, there are many daily discomforts, rendered worse by the cold and the rain, for those who have to live outside their homes, in their cars, or in tents," he said.

The Pope said he had shared in the tears and worries of those affected by the disaster and that his coming to the disaster zone was a sign that the Lord would not abandon them. He also praised the “faith, dignity and courage” of the victims.

"I would like to hug you affectionately one by one. Had it been possible, I would have liked to visit each village, each neighborhood, go to each tent camp and meet everyone. I encourage everyone, institutions and businesses, to see that this village and this region are reborn."

While some were questioning why the Pope did not come sooner, Carlo Cassano, a retired stationmaster at Onna, said, "The important thing is that the Pope has come to our little village, which no one had even heard of until a few weeks ago. He is bringing us hope and comfort, and that is fundamental."

The Pope also prayed at a ruined student hostel in the city of L’Aquila, where eight students were killed, and visited the damaged basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, where Pope Celestine V is entombed.

Speaking to Father Nunzio Spinelli, the rector of the basilica, the Pope said, "Now that I see the damage with my own eyes I can see it is even worse than I imagined."

It is expected to take two years to restore the basilica.

Father Spinelli said, "The basilica will be reborn as a symbol of L'Aquila … For us it is what the Eiffel Tower is for Paris."

The Pope also visited the Finance Police academy and barracks, which are being used as the headquarters for the emergency services. It was also the site of a mass funeral for 200 earthquake victims on 10 April.