1454 Landslide tragedy in Bishop Cantilla's diocese
austraLasia 1454

Philippines tragedy in Diocese administered by Bishop Precioso Cantillas SDB

MAASIN: 18th February 2006 --  The village of Guinsaugon, on the island of Leyte in the south central Philippines, belongs to Maasin Diocese which Salesian Bishop Precioso Cantillas has been bishop of now since 1997.  Further details of the tragedy can be easily picked up through the media generally, but anything up to 1,500 people or more, including an entire school population, may eventually be lost under an entire mountainside of mud and rocks which has obliterated the village.  The Bishop had only recently, just before the disaster, returned from celebrations of the centenary of the China Province.
    The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has written to Bishop Cantillas in the following words: "...the Holy Father offers fervent prayers for those who have died and he invokes divine consolation upon those who mourn.  He prays that the relief effort will be swift and generous in its response to the disaster and asks the Lord to grant courage and strength to all involved in the task of caring for those who have lost their homes.  Entrusting you and your people to the protection of Mary, Comfort of the Afflicted, he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing...etc".  The message was sent by Cardinal Sodano in the Pope's name as is usual in these circumstances.
    In 1991, Leyte province was the scene of one of the worst disasters in the history of the Philippines.  More than 5,000 people died as the result of a typhoon and the ensuing flooding.

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