Pope remembers 10th anniversary of devastating central Italy earthquake

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday commemorated the victims and survivors of the devastating earthquake that struck central Italy in 2016. Monday marks the tenth anniversary of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 297 people and stands as one of Italy's most significant recent disasters.

"Tomorrow marks the tenth anniversary of the earthquake that affected central Italy across Lazio, Umbria, and Marche. I pray for the deceased and their families, and for all the communities involved," the pontiff stated from the window of the Apostolic Palace after reciting the Angelus prayer.

The main seismic event, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake, occurred in the early hours of August 24, 2016. Its epicenter was just 4 kilometers deep, leading to the near-complete destruction of towns such as Amatrice, Accumoli, and Arquata del Tronto. Hundreds of aftershocks, some exceeding magnitude 5.0, followed in the subsequent days. These tremors hampered rescue efforts, displaced thousands, and caused extensive material damage to the region's architectural and cultural heritage.

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Tomorrow marks the tenth anniversary of the earthquake that affected central Italy across Lazio, Umbria, and Marche. I pray for the deceased and their families, and for all the communities involved.