SW News: Pope Francis conveyed his condolences for the victims of the rogue weather rampage in the US, where a tornado struck Michigan’s Gaylord community, and Canada, where severe thunderstorms occurred in the southeast.

The Holy Father expressed grief when he learned about the two disastrous events that left behind a trail of destruction and resulted in the loss of life.

The pope sent two separate telegram messages, which were signed on his behalf by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State. One was addressed to the Bishop of Gaylord Mon. Jeffrey J. Walsh and the other was sent to Bishop Raymond Poisson, the President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

A tornado struck Gaylord that has around 4,200 people and is located to the west of Detroit, on Friday, May 20, killing two people and injuring more than 40 others.

Electricity was knocked out and parts of the northern Michigan community were flattened. Extreme weather conditions such as these are very rare in this region.

The pontiff articulated “heartfelt solidarity” with everyone affected by this severe weather in the telegram he sent to Bishop Walsh.

Pope Francis mourned the “tragic loss of life” and offered “the assurance of prayers for the dead, the injured and displaced and those engaged in relief efforts” and also invoked God’s blessings for strength and peace.

In southeastern Canada, the recent line of thunderstorms has wreaked havoc causing loss of life and widespread devastation.

In the telegram received by the President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the pope said that he was praying “for all who are suffering the effects of this calamity.”