Pope Leo sends 100,000 euros in aid to Venezuela

VATICAN CITY - Pope Leo XIV sent "initial" emergency aid of 100,000 euros ($114,000) to earthquake-hit Venezuela, the Vatican said on Thursday.

The funds will come from the Apostolic Almonry, the Vatican office responsible for the pope's charity and aid to populations in difficulty.

It constitutes "an initial contribution" intended to support emergency relief efforts, said Vatican News, the Vatican's official news site.

Venezuela was shaken in the night from Wednesday to Thursday by two powerful earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, which left at least 164 dead, according to a still provisional toll.

Many countries, including Cuba, Iran, Italy, the United States and the European Union, have offered their assistance to the country, already weakened by a severe economic and social crisis. — Agence France-Presse