The following is the telegram sent by His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, on behalf of the Holy Father Francis, to His Eminence Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, for the damage caused by storms and fires in Italy:

Telegram

HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL MATTEO MARIA ZUPPI
PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE

FOLLOWING THE STORMS AND FIRES OF RECENT DAYS, WHICH HAVE SCOURGED VARIOUS ITALIAN REGIONS, CAUSING DAMAGE AND GREAT APPREHENSION AMONG THE PEOPLE, THE HOLY FATHER ASKS YOU TO BE THE INTERPRETER OF HIS AFFECTIONATE PROXIMITY TO THE POPULATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS ATMOSPHERIC EVENTS, WHICH HIGHLIGHT THE NEED TO MAKE COURAGEOUS AND FAR-SIGHTED EFFORTS TO FACE THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND TO PROTECT CREATION RESPONSIBLY, TAKING CARE OF THE COMMON HOME. HIS HOLINESS CALLS UPON THE LORD, BY THE INTERCESSION OF THE VIRGIN MARY, FOR THE COMFORT OF THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH SERIOUS DISASTERS AND, AS HE EXPRESSES HIS APPRECIATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GENEROUSLY WORKED IN THE RESCUE EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY THE FIREFIGHTERS, HE SENDS HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE OF HIS HOLINESS