Priest Walks Pereira's Streets Praying for City After Earthquake

In the Colombian city of Pereira, a priest is offering prayers for his city's recovery by walking its streets with a statue of the Virgin of Poverty, the patroness of Pereira. Father Nelson Giraldo Mejía, chaplain of the Technological University of Pereira (UTP), carries the replica of the image while praying for the capital of the Risaralda department to overcome the devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia last Monday.

Clad in his priestly vestments and holding a rosary in his other hand, Father Giraldo walks through the largely deserted streets of the city center. These streets remain closed to facilitate the removal of debris. "Let us not lose hope, let us all have the confidence that with strength, with wisdom, with intelligence we can move forward," he stated. Some individuals involved in the debris removal efforts have joined him in prayer.

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I am praying for the entire city with a replica of the image of Our Lady of Poverty, patroness of Pereira.

Father Giraldo has been praying for the entire city for several days, visiting various streets, particularly those most affected by the powerful earthquake. The seismic event, with its epicenter near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department, has resulted in significant casualties and destruction.

According to the latest figures from Colombian authorities, the earthquake has claimed 285 lives, left 379 people missing, injured 3,975, and destroyed 12,828 homes. In Pereira specifically, President Abelardo de la Espriella reported 94 fatalities, 259 injuries, and 140,000 displaced individuals from 41,600 families. These numbers contrast with earlier figures provided by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), which reported 102,262 affected individuals from 45,523 families nationwide.

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Let us not lose hope, let us all have the confidence that with strength, with wisdom, with intelligence we can move forward.