POPE PAUL IN AN OPEN JEEP DRIVING THROUGH THE STREETS.




Initials DE/V/BHH/SGM



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Background: POPE PAUL TODAY (SATURDAY) VISITED SOME OF THE SUBURBS OF ROME WHICH HAVE BEEN STRICKEN BY FLOODS IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. AS HE DROVE THROUGH THE FLOODED AREA, CROWDS LINED THE ROUTE AND MANY MORE WAVED FROM WINDOWS AS HE PASSED.

FROM TIME TO TIME POPE PAUL STOPPED THE JEEP AND GOT OUT TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE. "I HAVE COME TO SEE YOU - I WANTED TO SHARE YOUR SUFFERINGS", HE TOLD THEM. HE LET WEEPING WOMEN AND CHILDREN KISS HIS HAND.

THE FLOOD ARE AMONG THE WORST IN ROME'S HISTORY - BUT OTHER PARTS OF ITALY HAVE ALSO BEEN AFFECTED. MORE THAN FORTY PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND THOUSANDS HAVE HAD TO FLEE FROM THEIR HOMES. THE POPE SAW SOME OF THE RUIN - HOUSES WITH THEIR ROOFS CAVED IN, AND CARS CRUMPLED AND OVERTURNED.

AT ONE POINT A WOMAN WAS PRESENTED TO THE POPE. HE WAS TOLD SHE HAD SAVED HER SMALL CHILD BY HANGING FROM A ROOF GUTTER CLENCHING THE CHILD'S CLOTHES IN HER TEETH.