The following is the telegram sent by His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, on behalf of the Holy Father Francis, to Bishop Petros Stefànou, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Greece, for the damage caused by the fires in Greece:

Telegram

THE MOST REVEREND PETROS STEFÀNOU
PRESIDENT OF THE BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF GREECE

HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS IS DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE THREAT TO LIFE AND DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE WIDESPREAD WILDFIRES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF GREECE, AND BEYOND, AS A RESULT OF THE CURRENT HEATWAVE AFFLICTING A NUMBER OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. HIS HOLINESS ASSURES ALL THOSE AFFECTED OF HIS SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS AND PRAYS IN A PARTICULAR WAY THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL BLESS THE EFFORTS OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL TO COMBAT THIS HAZARDOUS SITUATION. IT IS LIKEWISE HIS HOPE THAT THE RISKS TO OUR COMMON HOME, EXACERBATED BY THE PRESENT CLIMATE CRISIS, WILL SPUR ALL PEOPLE TO RENEW THEIR EFFORTS TO CARE FOR THE GIFT OF CREATION, FOR THE SAKE OF FUTURE GENERATIONS.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE