By Charles Igwe
During his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis expressed a heartfelt appeal for Valencia and other regions in Spain impacted by catastrophic flooding. With more than 200 lives lost and dozens still missing, he conveyed his closeness to those affected, entrusting them to Our Lady of the Forsaken, the Patron Saint of Valencia, known for her care for the poor and vulnerable.
As he spoke, Pope Francis had by his side an image of the Virgin of the Forsaken, given to him by the faithful of Valencia. “I wanted her, the Patron Saint of Valencia, to be here,” he shared, emphasizing his spiritual solidarity with those enduring this tragedy. The image depicts the Virgin with a lily in one hand and the infant Jesus in her arms, her slightly inclined posture earning her the affectionate nickname “La Geperudeta,” or “little hunchback.”
In his address, the Pope called on the faithful to pray for Valencia and other areas of Spain grappling with the flooding. Spanish officials recently confirmed that 89 people remain missing in the eastern Valencia region, where 211 of the 217 confirmed deaths occurred.
Following his catechesis, Pope Francis also extended his appeal for peace to those suffering from the ongoing brutality of war, reminding listeners of the enduring call to care for one another in times of crisis.
