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📍 Vatican City, July 6, 2025 — Pope Leo XIV has expressed heartfelt condolences to the victims of catastrophic flash floods in Texas, which have claimed the lives of at least 50 people, with nearly 30 still missing, many of them children attending a summer camp along the Guadalupe River.
Speaking in English during his Sunday Angelus address from St. Peter’s Square, the US-born pontiff said:
“I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in a summer camp in the disaster caused by flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas. We pray for them”.
🌊 Disaster Overview The floods were triggered by torrential rainfall—nearly 300 millimeters per hour, equivalent to a third of the region’s annual average—causing the Guadalupe River to surge 26 feet in just 45 minutes. The deluge swept through Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Kerr County, where dozens of girls were sleeping in riverside cabins.
Rescue operations, led by the Texas National Guard, continue as authorities search for 27 missing campers and staff. Over 800 people have been evacuated, and emergency shelters have been established for displaced families.
🕊️ Global and Local Response The Archdiocese of San Antonio and other faith organizations have mobilized relief efforts, while Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared July 6 a Day of Prayer, urging residents to support victims and first responders.
Following his address, Pope Leo departed for Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence outside Rome, for a brief period of rest.
For more details, see the full report from Vatican News.
