Rome to pray for Queensland flood victims

Rome will hold a special public mass to pray for flood victims across Australia, our ambassador to the Holy See says

The Caravita Oratory in Rome was also the place where priests held a similar mass in 2009 for the Black Saturday fire victims of Victoria.

Brisbane-born Canon David Richardson, the director of the Anglican Centre, will join several Caravita community Catholic priests to concelebrate and pray for the flood victims.

"There has (sic) been many offers of sympathy and help from the Pope downwards throughout these last few days and before, when the floods hit central Queensland," Australian ambassador Tim Fischer said in a statement on Saturday.

"Pope Benedict XVI, who I spoke with very briefly about the Australian floods last Monday, expressed his support and 'closeness' to the flood victims."
The mass will take place at 11am local time on Sunday (9pm AEDT).