The following is the telegram sent on behalf of the Holy Father Leo XIV by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, to Archbishop Riccardo Lamba, metropolitan of Udine, on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the earthquake in Friuli:

Telegram

TO HIS MOST REVERENT EXCELLENCY
ARCHBISHOP RICCARDO LAMBA
OF UDINE

ON THE 50^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN FRIULI, WHICH DEEPLY AFFECTED THIS REGION, POPE LEO XIV JOINS SPIRITUALLY IN THE EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION, PRESIDED OVER BY CARDINAL MATTEO ZUPPI, IN MEMORY OF THE MANY VICTIMS AND IN GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO, FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES, BRINGING AID, JOINING THE TIRELESS DEDICATION OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES, WHICH ENABLED A RAPID RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE AND AN EXEMPLARY RECONSTRUCTION, A MODEL OF CIVIC REBIRTH. THE HOLY FATHER ASSURES HIS PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCE FOR THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, DIRECTING HIS WORDS OF COMFORT TO THE FAMILIES WHO STILL BEAR THE SCARS OF THAT SEPARATION FROM THEIR LOVED ONES. IN HIGHLIGHTING THE APPRECIATED HUMAN AND CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY SHOWN IN THAT PAINFUL CIRCUMSTANCE BY ITALIAN AND FOREIGN COMMUNITIES, THE SUPREME PONTIFF HOPES THAT THE MEMORY OF SUCH A TRAGIC EVENT WILL INSPIRE RENEWED COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING THE VALUES OF BROTHERHOOD AND CHARITY. WITH THESE WISHES, HIS HOLINESS ENTRUSTS THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF FRIULI TO THE MOTHERLY PROTECTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY AND THE PATRON SAINTS HERMAGORAS AND FORTUNATUS, WHILE HE GLADLY CONFERS THE APOSTOLIC BLESSING, AS A PLEDGE OF CONTINUOUS DIVINE ASSISTANCE.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE OF HIS HOLINESS

From the Vatican, 3 May 2026