Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Benedict XVI has called on Catholics to unite in prayer for the victims of the massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last week, and may have killed more than 10,000 people, as the country now struggles to cope with an increasing nuclear crisis.

At Sunday’s Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the Pope paid tribute to the ‘courageous’ Japanese people and urged a swift rescue operation.

“Dear brothers and sisters, the images of the tragic earthquake and the consequent tsunami in Japan have left a strong impression on us all,” the Holy Father said to the thousands gathered at St Peter’s Square on the first Sunday of Lent. “I would like to renew my spiritual closeness to the dear people of the country, who with dignity and courage are facing the consequences of such disasters.

“I pray for the victims and their families, and for those who suffer from these terrible events. I encourage those, who with commendable speed, are working to bring help. We remain united in prayer. The Lord is close to us.”

Disaster

The world’s third-largest economy is struggling to respond to a disaster of epic proportions, with more than one million people without water or power and whole towns wiped off the map. The Holy Father also prayed for the rescue workers, faced with scenes of devastation.

“As I greet you this morning, I ask you to join me in praying for the victims of the recent devastation visited upon Japan,” he said. “May the bereaved and injured be comforted and may the rescue workers be strengthened in their efforts to assist the courageous Japanese people.”

Nuclear threat

The Japanese Government was, this week, seeking to avert further disaster in the city of Fukushima, where all six reactors at the city’s nuclear plant have been experiencing problems, including explosions and fires, since the earthquake and waves from the tsunami struck.

As the SCO went to press, workers battling to secure safety and avert a major radiation leak at the Dailichi atomic power plant had been evacuated after radiation levels became too dangerous for them to remain.

The government’s chief spokesman, Yukio Edano, said the emergency crew, which had been dousing the plant’s reactors with seawater in an attempt to stabilise their temperatures, had no choice but to pull back from the most dangerous areas.

Earlier in the week, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said that radiation levels are ‘very high’ and the government ordered 140,000 people living within a 19-mile radius of the plant to stay indoors.

Meanwhile in an extremely rare appearance, Japan’s Emperor Akihito said on live television that he was ‘deeply concerned’ about the nuclear crisis and was praying for his people.

There are also reports that the Shinmoedake volcano in southern Japan has resumed activity, spewing ash and rock into the atmosphere, after lying dormant since an eruption on January 19.

International aid

The Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the charitable arm of the Papacy, has announced that the Pope was making a donation of £63,000 to the relief efforts.

As rescue efforts continue and the Japanese people try and come to terms with the devastation of the biggest disaster to hit the country since the Second World War, Fr Daisuke Narui, executive director of Caritas Japan, said that the focus of the Church is on the most vulnerable.

“Currently we are called to give a testimony to unity and closeness to all human suffering,” Fr Narui said.

The priest added that Caritas, the international Catholic charity to which the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) is affiliated, and the local Church are collecting information on affected areas to plan their response efforts, but that there are particular concerns about the city of Sendai.

On a national level, the charitable association initiated a solidarity campaign in all Japanese churches on Sunday, with Masses being dedicated to the memory of the victims. The campaign will also take in Catholic schools, associations and institutions, with the intention of raising funds to help the displaced.

Bishops help

Bishop Marcellinus Daiji Tani of Saitama, one of the areas struck by the tsunamis, said that Catholics ‘will respond to the tragedy of the earthquake and tsunami that struck northern Japan, with prayer and solidarity.’

“They must take courage, with the help of the Holy Spirit,” he said.

Bishop Tani added that the catastrophe is a reminder ‘that life is in the hands of God, and that life is a gift from God.’

Fears are also growing over the amount of UK victims of the Japanese earthquake. An increasing number of Britons have already raised concerns about friends and relatives who may have been caught up in the devastation.

By the beginning of the week more than 4000 people had already contacted a Foreign office helpline for those worried about relatives in Japan.

— Donations can be made to Caritas’ Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami relief response via the SCIAF website at: www.sciaf.org.uk

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