Cardinal Michael Cherney, prefect of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, visited Valencia and the surrounding areas devastated by Hurricane Dana and expressed Pope Francis’ solidarity.
vatican news
Vatican City, Wednesday, November 27, 2024: Cardinal Michael Cherney, Prefect of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development of the Holy See, visited the Spanish city of Valencia on November 15 and 16, devastated by heavy rains and floods late October, a disaster that killed more than 200 people, left countless people missing and destroyed homes, businesses, bridges and subway systems. Cardinal Cherney conveyed the message of closeness and solidarity to Pope Francis.
During his trip to Spain he also visited towns near Valencia, including Alfar, Benetús, Cattara, La Torre, Picanya and Paporata, the epicenter of the tragedy. He placed a flower before the image of Our Lady of the Helpless, Patroness of Valencia, in tribute to all those affected by the storm.
“Scrapyard”
In an interview with Vatican media, Cardinal Cherney shared his experiences, emotions and observations from his two-day visit. “The physical destruction is enormous. We saw water marks 2 to 4 meters high on churches, schools and houses. Entire neighborhoods were washed away, leaving debris as evidence of the power of the flood,” he said, adding that he was very shocked. When observing the more than 100,000 destroyed vehicles: “There were ‘cemeteries’ of cars, piled on top of each other and made of deformed metal, reflecting the force of the water.”
the church that opened its doors for the first time
In Valencia, Cardinal Cherney met with local residents, including government officials, priests, relatives of the victims, volunteers and Archbishop Enrique Benavente Vidal, who visited each of the affected parishes. Many residents expressed their deep gratitude to the cathedral, which was “the first to open its doors and become a ‘field hospital,'” in stark contrast to the slow response of public authorities. “People told us they received emergency alerts on their phones just hours after the disaster struck,” Cardinal Cherney said.
Churches converted into help and support centers
voluntary response
Cardinal Cherney described some of the survival stories as “divine.” In one case, people escaped to higher floors just before floodwaters entered their homes and narrowly escaped. “These stories of survival are deeply moving and point to divine protection in the midst of tragedy,” he said.
He was also inspired by the extraordinary response of the volunteers: “We met a young American woman, a high-level professional, who had come as a volunteer with her father and two younger brothers to report on the disaster. Hearing this, people “He came immediately from all over the United States to help. His selfless service was a powerful example of a universal calling that transcends borders and cultures.”
During his speech, Pope Francis once again called for prayer and solidarity for Valencia, encouraging not only material help but also spiritual support for those affected by the catastrophe.
The Church as a center of help and hope
The most special thing for Cardinal Cherney was seeing the churches of Valencia transformed into makeshift food distribution centers. “With stores closed, these sacred spaces became essential for distributing aid and serving as places of compassion, faith and hope in the midst of immense suffering,” he said. “In these moments we saw Christ leave the Holy Ark and become present among those who suffered and those who served him.”
serving priests and missionaries
Cardinal Cherney also highlighted the vibrant spirit of the young priests of Valencia, whom he described as “true missionaries.” He not only provided material assistance but also spiritually encouraged the thousands of volunteers who came to help. “They brought us comfort, encouragement and relief with incredible dedication,” he said. The religious sisters, in rubber boots and mud-stained clothes, worked side by side with young volunteers and Caritas staff.
One particularly moving scene showed a young father and his 10-year-old son working together as volunteers. Cardinal Cherney commented: “The father was teaching his son the true meaning of Christian service.”
prayer for the victims
In Pieporta, Cherny presided over a mass in the church of Saint George the Martyr together with Archbishop Benavente, vicar Jesús Corby Vidagnan and almost all the priests of the affected parishes. The mass offered prayers for the dead and those still suffering. Hundreds of people attended and the prayer became a time to reaffirm the Church’s presence and continued support for the community.
