Christian World | Ten years after central Italy's earthquakes killed around 300 people, Pope Leo XIV urged affected towns to rebuild as quickly and safely as possible

ACW | November 1, 2026 — Pope Leo XIV on Saturday told delegations from towns hit by central Italy's earthquakes a decade ago that every effort must be made to rebuild as quickly as possible and safely, the Holy See Press Office said.

The audience took place on Saturday morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace. The Pope said the earthquakes "claimed hundreds of lives, caused immense destruction, and brought profound sorrow to entire communities."

The quakes struck Lazio, Marche, Umbria and Abruzzo between August 2016 and January 2017, Vatican News reported. Around 300 people died and tens of thousands were displaced, with Amatrice the hardest-hit town, it said.

Drawing on the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the Book of Nehemiah, the Pope said reconstruction came "not through the efforts of a single individual, but through the shared responsibility of the entire people." It also needs "a prophetic gaze" that sees beyond the rubble, he said.

He urged communities to start again "from the centre—starting again from God, from people, from the common good, and from relationships." He closed with the words of the prophet Haggai: "Take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you."

Background: The Pope recalled saints linked to the region, including Rita of Cascia, Nicholas of Tolentino, Benedict and Francis of Assisi. The Vatican press office also released the theme of World Mission Day 2027 the same day; read ACW's report.

Why it matters: Ten years on, approximately 10,000 people still live in temporary arrangements and large parts of Amatrice remain cordoned off, according to Vatican News.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Holy See Press Office — Audience with delegations from municipalities affected by earthquakes in Central Italy; Vatican News — Ten years after earthquakes, Pope calls for renewed push to rebuild

Photo: Vatican Media