Pope Francis Sends Prayers and Condolences to Flood-Hit Texas Communities

Pope Leo Offers Condolences After Deadly Texas Floods.

Pope Leo on Sunday offered prayers and condolences to the families affected by the devastating floods in Texas, which have left at least 50 people dead and 27 still missing, many of them children.

Speaking after the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the US-born pontiff said,

“I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones, especially the daughters who were at a summer camp during the tragic flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas. We hold them in our prayers.” The disaster unfolded Friday after torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise by eight meters (26 feet) in just 45 minutes, overwhelming low-lying areas and sweeping away a riverside summer camp.

Emergency crews worked through the night to locate 27 missing girls and teenagers, feared to have been caught in the sudden surge. Authorities say the group was camping near the river when flash floods struck with little warning. Meteorologists reported nearly 300 millimeters of rain falling in under an hour — a third of the region’s annual average — triggering widespread flooding across central Texas.

Officials have declared a state of emergency as rescue efforts continue and communities begin to assess the damage.