Pope asks young people to join him in prayers for victims of Georgia landslide

By Vatican News

Pope Francis appealed to all the young people gathered in Lisbon for the final World Youth Day Mass to join him in prayers for all those affected by a landslide in Georgia that killed at least 17 people, while rescue efforts continue with 18 people still missing.

The landslide struck the mountain resort town of Shovi in Georgia’s Racha region struck on Friday, 4 August. Drone footage of the landslide showed mud, tree trunks and other debris partly covering the lush green valley.

Speaking during the Angelus, the Pope asked those present to join him in praying together “for the victims of the tragic avalanche that occurred two days ago in the Racha region of Georgia.”

He also expressed his closeness to the families of the victims and his support for the work of the search and rescue teams.

Finally, he said, "I am close to my brother,” Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia.