People of Haiti need our prayers

[Updated at noon to add Pope Benedict's message.]

If you can do nothing else, please pray for the people of Port-au-Prince.

Many Catholic parishes in the United States have "twinned" with parishes in Haiti and taken a personal concern for assisting the Haitian people, many of whom are Catholics. Calls for prayer have gone out around the Nation and throughout the world. More than two-thirds of the population is Catholic.

Bishop Michael R. Cote of the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut issued a letter immediately upon hearing of the tragedy. In it he said:

"Our prayers tonight are with our brothers and sisters in Haiti who are in harms way of the major earthquake that has hit close to Port au Prince. As we work to learn more through the night of their plight, we hope to make contact with our diocesan mission house, the Norwich Mission House in Tetionville and Hospice St. Joseph in Port au Prince; Our life lines to the Island.

"The Diocese has been on the ground in Haiti faithfully helping the good people of this impoverished Country for over 25 years. We care deeply about their struggle. We are a united family in that concern as we face this disaster. The people of Haiti need our help...and the help of more and more people in our compassionate Country through this time and through the long road to recovery. May God watch over and bring strength to those suffering and those answering the call to help."

During the general audience on Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI made an appeal to the world on behalf of Haitians.  The Pontiff called for prayer, solidarity and generosity to aid the victims of the catastrophe.


The Pope invited "everyone" to join with him in prayer for the dead as he also implored that God provide consolation and relief from suffering to the survivors.

He assured Haitians of his “spiritual closeness” and that there would be no delay in the mobilization of aid from the Church's charitable institutions “to fulfill the most immediate needs of the population.” 
The Holy Father appealed especially for generosity in giving to "these brothers and sisters who are living a moment of necessity and pain, our concrete solidarity and the proactive support of the international community.”