August tremor razed towns, left nearly 300 dead Wednesday, October 5, 2016 Pope Francis makes surprise visit to Italy quake zoneVATICAN CITY — Pope Francis made a surprise visit yesterday to the site of the devastating August earthquake in central Italy, praying silently and alone amid the rubble in the hardest-hit area of the devastated town of Amatrice. The Vatican announced the pope’s visit to the quake zone in central Italy shortly after his arrival, in keeping with Francis’ wish to keep the visit private. “I didn’t come earlier so as not to cause problems, given your condition,” the pope told survivors, according to Vatican Radio. The pope met with a man who lost his wife and children in the quake, the Vatican said. Francis had made clear his intentions to visit the quake-stricken zone but without announcing a date.

Source: Bueno Aires Herald October 04, 2016 14:03 UTC