Following the devastating earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10, killing at least 180 people and injuring thousands, bishops from across Latin America have expressed their solidarity and offered prayers for the affected communities.
The Bishops of Argentina conveyed their “closeness and solidarity with the Church and with the entire beloved people of Colombia” in a letter to Archbishop Francisco Javier Múnera, president of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference. “We especially share in the pain of the victims and their families, and we accompany with our prayers all the communities affected by this difficult time. We ask the Lord to grant comfort to those who are suffering, strength to those who have lost loved ones, and hope to those facing the consequences of this tragedy,” they wrote.
Peruvian Bishops Offer Prayers and Solace
The bishops of Peru expressed their “most heartfelt closeness and solidarity with the beloved Colombian people and with the entire Catholic Church in Colombia.” They continued: “We accompany with our prayers the families going through moments of anguish and, especially, those who have lost their loved ones. We ask the Lord to welcome the deceased into his presence and to grant solace and strength to their families.” The Peruvian prelates also prayed to the Virgin of Chiquinquirá, patroness of Colombia, for the injured and all those “affected by this disaster, as well as for those participating in relief and aid efforts.”
Mexican Bishops Invoke Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Intercession
The Mexican Bishops’ Conference stated on X (formerly Twitter): “We join in prayer with the Latin American Bishops’ Council and the entire Church in Colombia in the face of the earthquake that occurred today. We express our closeness and solidarity with the affected families. We ask God to grant strength and hope to those experiencing moments of anguish today and to bless those working in relief and rescue efforts. May Our Lady of Guadalupe accompany the Colombian people and cover them with her mantle of protection.”
Chilean Bishops Join Humanitarian Aid Initiatives
The Chilean Bishops’ Conference also expressed its “fraternal closeness to the Colombian people and their shepherds,” joining in prayer “for the families who have lost loved ones, the injured, and those suffering the destruction of their homes.” They added, “We also share the concern of the Colombian community in Chile and assure them of our closeness and remembrance before the altar of the Lord.” The Chilean bishops encouraged the faithful to “pray for the victims and join in the humanitarian aid initiatives of the civil and ecclesial institutions.”
The Earthquake in Colombia
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck several Colombian departments on August 10, leaving at least 180 people dead. In an update on August 11, President Abelardo de la Espriella reported nearly 2,600 injured, almost 200 missing, more than 1,100 homes destroyed, and over 8,000 damaged. The quake occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time at a depth of about 60 miles, with its epicenter in the town of San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó on the Pacific coast. De la Espriella declared a state of emergency to coordinate aid for the nine affected departments.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
