More than 1,350 people died in a violent earthquake that struck southern Turkey and Syria overnight. At magnitude 7.8 on the Richter Scale, the earthquake caused the collapse of the Cathedral of the Annunciation, in the town of Iskenderun on the eastern most coast of the Mediterranean. The Italian Bishops’ Conference and the Order of Malta immediately activated their disaster relief networks. Pope Francis sent his condolences to both affected countries in a telegram signed by Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin.

In the telegram addressed to Archbishop Marek Solczybski, apostolic nuncio to Turkey, the Pope assured his spiritual closeness to all affected by the earthquake, “entrusting those who died to the merciful memory of the Almighty” and sending “heartfelt condolences to those who are mourning their loss.”

The telegram stated that the Pope also prays “that emergency personnel is sustained in their care of the wounded and in their continuing efforts to help by the divine gifts of fortitude and perseverance.”

To Cardinal Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio to Syria, Cardinal Parolin wrote that the Pope is “deeply saddened by the significant loss of life caused by the earthquake in the Northwest area of Syria. There, too, the Pope prays for those who have lost loved ones and those who bring help, and in addition, “the Pope invokes over the long-suffering Syrian people the divine blessing of strength and peace.”