VATICAN CITY, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Pope Francis said he will visit the Italian towns decimated by last week's 6.2-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 290 people.
"Dear brothers and sisters, I hope to come visit you as soon as possible so I can personally bring you the comfort of faith and the support of Christian hope," Francis said while speaking to worshippers Sunday in Vatican City's St. Peter's Square. "I hope to come and see you, to bring you the comfort of faith, the tenderness of a father and a brother."