Pope Leo offers prayers for Venezuela quake victims; EU sends aid

Before his papacy, Leo spent decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru and is planning a tour of southern Latin America in November. He also expressed gratitude to rescuers and aid workers.

Separately, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that the European Union had mobilized 5 million euros ($5.9 million) in emergency assistance for the affected communities. Kallas stated she had spoken with Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, to convey Europe's solidarity. The European Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated, leading to the rapid deployment of search-and-rescue teams, firefighters, and medical personnel. Additionally, the EU's Copernicus satellite system is assisting in mapping the damage to direct aid effectively.