Pope Leo XIV prays for Filipinos suffering amid Mindanao earthquake

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday sent his prayers for all Filipinos affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Sarangani last week and took 61 lives so far.

The Pontiff expressed his prayers and sympathies in a post on his X account.

“I assure my closeness to the people of the Philippines, struck a few days ago by a powerful earthquake,” the Pope said.

“I pray for the deceased and their families, for the wounded, and for all those suffering because of this disaster,” he added.

I assure my closeness to the people of the Philippines, struck a few days ago by a powerful earthquake. I pray for the deceased and their families, for the wounded, and for all those suffering because of this disaster.

— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) June 14, 2026

The destructive tremor hit off the coast of Sarangani on Monday morning, June 8, prompting the issuance of a tsunami warning.

As of Saturday, the Office of Civil Defense said the death toll has reached 61, with 54 from Region 12 and seven from Region 11.

On Sunday, the OCD added that 173,000 families or 724,000 have been affected by the devastation by the powerful earthquake.

A total of 5,200 aftershocks ranging from magnitude 1.2 to 6.4 have so far been recorded, 1,307 of which have been plotted and 76 were felt.

The destruction from the earthquake also prompted the declaration of a state of calamity in Sarangani and in General Santos City. — JMA, GMA News