Filippino archbishop calls on Catholics to open homes to typhoon survivors

Vatican News

Typhoon Kalmaegi—known locally as Tino—has killed more than 90 people on the Philippine island of Cebu and devastated the central part of the country. This is the 20th storm to hit the country this season.

In the Cebu province, several municipalities have been flooded and civil authorities have reported that “water has also inundated houses and streets in highly urbanized areas”. Some 400,00 people have been evacuated as a precaution and are now homeless. The national weather service recorded the typhoon brought heavy rainfall which has been described as “unprecedented”.

Catholic response

According to the Vatican’s Fides agency, Archbishop Alberto S. Uy of Cebu has encouraged the local Catholic community to open the doors of their homes, churches, and institutions to those in need. He stressed that disasters such as this “reflect what we have done, or failed to do, for our common home.”

“God speaks through the wind and the water”, the archbishop explained. “He invites us to rediscover our responsibility as stewards, not exploiters.” He expressed his desire that the floods “awaken in us” a greater ecological and moral conversion and remind us that caring for our common home is an act of faith, justice, and love.

People return to see destroyed houses due to floods caused by typhoon Kalmaegi at a riverside community in Bacayan, Cebu City, Philippines   (ANSA)

This the not the first natural disaster that has impacted the island of Cebu. Just last month, an earthquake struck the area, killing more than 70 people, displacing over 20,000, and badly damaging historic buildings, churches, and facilities.

In the aftermath of that earthquake, the local church launched an emergency relief initiative with the appeal “Give Hope”. Now, following Typhoon Tino, this relief effort is relaunching to offer solidarity and support to those affected by the storm.