POPE FRANCIS TODAY prayed for the victims of the typhoon-ravaged Philippines at a ceremony to mark the unveiling of a mosaic image of the country’s youngest saint in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The ceremony was attended by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila, who helped coordinate aid efforts after the storm, which left around 5,500 people dead or missing and 4.4 million homeless.

In an improvised speech, Pope Francis said:

I have been close to your people, I have seen how great the pain has been but also how strong the people have been.Faith emerged from the ruins, it came from solidarity in the moment of hardship.

Irish humanitarian agency GOAL has said meanwhile that the humanitarian situation and devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan is as bad as any of the natural disasters GOAL has responded to since its foundation 36 years ago.

As part of the relief effort Aer Lingus will this Sunday fly 40 tonnes of GOAL aid, including much-needed emergency medical supplies, water, food, shelter materials and other essential items to survivors of the typhoon to Dubai, for onward distribution to the Philippines.