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STORY: Pope Francis on Sunday asked everyone to join him in prayer for the many thousands of people the Philippines who were killed when a super powerful typhoon struck on Friday.
"I wish to assure you of my solidarity to the people of the Philippines and to the whole region, who have been hit by a terrible typhoon," said the Pontiff to huge applause from the crowds in St. Peter's Square who had gathered to join in the weekly Angelus Prayer.
"Unfortunately the victims are many and the damage enormous. Let us pray in silence for a moment and then to the Madonna for our brothers and sisters, and also seek to send them practical help," added the Pope.
One of the most powerful storms ever recorded killed at least 10,000 people in the central Philippines a senior police official said on Sunday, with huge waves sweeping away entire coastal villages and devastating the region's main city.
