During his Sunday Angelus message on October 1, Pope Leo XIV expressed his deep sympathy for the victims of devastating floods that affected the Zona da Mata region in Minas Gerais, Brazil. He offered prayers for the families who lost their homes and commended the efforts of those involved in rescue operations. The floods have had severe consequences, particularly in the city of Juiz de Fora, where 65 lives have been lost, and the body of the last missing victim, a nine-year-old boy named Pietro Cesar Teodoro Freitas, was recovered over the weekend.

The harsh impact of the floods was also felt in other municipalities including Ubá, where there were seven reported deaths and ongoing search efforts for a missing individual. The region has declared a public calamity in response to the flooding and rising river levels, which have further threatened local communities. The disaster began around the evening of September 23, when heavy storms hit the two largest cities in the Zona da Mata, leading to significant damage and loss of life.

Pope Leo's call for solidarity with the affected population highlights the importance of community support and the church's role in providing spiritual aid during such crises. The message serves as a reminder of the broader implications of climate-related disasters and the need for both local and international assistance in recovery efforts.