After praying the Regina Coeli this Sunday, 28 May 2023, the Pope expressed his closeness to the people living on the border of the two Asian countries, who are facing the devastating damage caused by Cyclone Mocha. May humanitarian access be facilitated, implored the Pontiff, who also recalled the already very precarious conditions in which the many Rohingnas find themselves.

These were the Pope’s words after the Marian prayer, provided by the Holy See Press Office:

The Pope’s words after the Regina Caeli

Dear brothers and sisters!

Last 22 May the 150^th anniversary of the death of one of the most eminent figures of literature, Alessandro Manzoni, was commemorated. Through his works, he spoke for victims and for the least: they were always under the protective hand of divine Providence, which “doth create and slay, Who doth chastise then heal in love”; and are sustained also by the proximity of the faithful pastors of the Church, present in the pages of Manzoni’s masterpiece.

I invite you to pray for the populations who live on the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh, hard hit by a cyclone: more than eight-hundred thousand people, in addition to the many Rohingya already living in precarious conditions. As I reiterate my closeness to these populations, I address the leaders, so that they may facilitate access to humanitarian aid, and I appeal to the sense of human and ecclesial solidarity to come to the aid of these brothers and sisters of ours.

I warmly greet you all, Romans and pilgrims from Italy and many countries, especially the faithful from Panama and the pilgrimage of the archdiocese of Tulancingo, Mexico, celebrating Nuestra Señora de los Angeles; as well as a group from Novellana, Spain. I also greet the faithful of Celeseo, Padua, and of Bari, and I send my blessing to those who have gathered at the Gemelli Hospital to promote initiatives of fraternity with the sick.

Next Wednesday, at the end of the month of May, in Marian shrines throughout the world, moments of prayer are planned in Marian shrines around the world to support the preparations for the next Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. We ask the Virgin Mary to accompany this important stage of the Synod with her maternal protection. And to Her we also entrust the desire for peace of so many populations throughout the world, especially of beleaguered Ukraine.

I wish you all a good Sunday. And please do not forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and goodbye!