KUALA LUMPUR — The Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia donated RM275,078.91 to help with recovery efforts after the devastating explosion which occurred in the capital city of Beirut on August 4.
The donation was channelled via the Good Shepherd International Foundation.
Two hundred people were killed and 6,000 were injured in the blast. The explosion also caused extensive damage to the city and flattened buildings near the port left around 300,000 people homeless.
On Sept 4, Pope Francis sent Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to Lebanon as an expression of his “spiritual closeness and solidarity” with the Lebanese people.
Pope Francis also called for a universal day of prayer and fasting on Sept 4 for Lebanon and invited people of all religions to join in. Besides the deadly explosion of Aug 4 in Beirut, the nation has been going through the worst economic and political crisis in its history.
“One month after the tragedy that struck the city of Beirut, my thoughts turn once again to Lebanon and its people, so sorely tried,” the Pope said during his weekly General Audience.
He encouraged all to demonstrate their closeness through concrete works of charity.
The Pope also invited other Christian Churches and religious traditions to join this initiative in a manner they deem most appropriate.
Let us continue to pray for all those affected and for all who are actively contributing or supporting the relief work to help those in distress.
