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| Pope urges quake area 'rebirth' | Pope urges quake area 'rebirth' |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Pope Benedict XVI has spent the morning in central Italy visiting survivors of the earthquake that struck on 6 April. | Pope Benedict XVI has spent the morning in central Italy visiting survivors of the earthquake that struck on 6 April. |
| Arriving in the devastated village of Onna, the Pope expressed condolences for the quake victims, but said the village and region could be "reborn". | Arriving in the devastated village of Onna, the Pope expressed condolences for the quake victims, but said the village and region could be "reborn". |
| In the regional capital, L'Aquila, the Pope visited a collapsed student dormitory. He gave a speech and prayed with residents and rescue workers. | In the regional capital, L'Aquila, the Pope visited a collapsed student dormitory. He gave a speech and prayed with residents and rescue workers. |
| Nearly 300 people died in the 6.3 magnitude quake, which hit on 6 April. | Nearly 300 people died in the 6.3 magnitude quake, which hit on 6 April. |
| Some 65,000 people are still homeless. Around 36,000 are living in tents while others are being put up in hotels. | Some 65,000 people are still homeless. Around 36,000 are living in tents while others are being put up in hotels. |
| Local prosecutors have opened an investigation to establish if there is any criminal blame connected with the number of collapsed buildings. | Local prosecutors have opened an investigation to establish if there is any criminal blame connected with the number of collapsed buildings. |
| 'Expressing my closeness' | 'Expressing my closeness' |
| On arrival in Onna, the Pope greeted local residents, kissing one baby held by its mother. | On arrival in Onna, the Pope greeted local residents, kissing one baby held by its mother. |
| Forty of the village's 300 residents died in the earthquake, and the survivors now live in tents. | Forty of the village's 300 residents died in the earthquake, and the survivors now live in tents. |
| It is the Pope's first visit to the region since the quake hit | It is the Pope's first visit to the region since the quake hit |
| In some brief remarks, the Pope said the Church was sharing their pain, adding: "I would like to hug you affectionately one by one. | In some brief remarks, the Pope said the Church was sharing their pain, adding: "I would like to hug you affectionately one by one. |
| "I encourage everyone, institutions and businesses, to see that this village and this region are reborn," he said, against a backdrop of a tent camp housing survivors. | "I encourage everyone, institutions and businesses, to see that this village and this region are reborn," he said, against a backdrop of a tent camp housing survivors. |
| "I have come in person to your splendid but devastated land, which is suffering times of great pain and vulnerability, to express my closeness to you in the most direct way possible," the pope said, according to AFP news agency. | "I have come in person to your splendid but devastated land, which is suffering times of great pain and vulnerability, to express my closeness to you in the most direct way possible," the pope said, according to AFP news agency. |
| The Pope received an emotional response from the residents and rescue workers he met. | The Pope received an emotional response from the residents and rescue workers he met. |
| One woman, Concetta De Angelis, marvelled at the pontiff visiting the hamlet. | One woman, Concetta De Angelis, marvelled at the pontiff visiting the hamlet. |
| "A pope has never come here. This village isn't even on the map!" she told Associated Press news agency. | "A pope has never come here. This village isn't even on the map!" she told Associated Press news agency. |
| Meanwhile, Germana D'Onofrio, a civil protection worker who cooks meals for the homeless, was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying: "I feed the body and the Pope feeds the spirit." | Meanwhile, Germana D'Onofrio, a civil protection worker who cooks meals for the homeless, was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying: "I feed the body and the Pope feeds the spirit." |
| Rescuers thanked | Rescuers thanked |
| The pontiff then set off for L'Aquila, the capital of the Abruzzo region, stopping on the way at the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, one of the area's most famous churches which was badly damaged during the quake. | The pontiff then set off for L'Aquila, the capital of the Abruzzo region, stopping on the way at the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, one of the area's most famous churches which was badly damaged during the quake. |
| In L'Aquila, the Pope visited a student residence block where several young people lost their lives. It became a gathering point for distressed relatives during the search for survivors. | In L'Aquila, the Pope visited a student residence block where several young people lost their lives. It became a gathering point for distressed relatives during the search for survivors. |
| The students knelt before the Pope and kissed his hand, some visibly emotional. One gave him a letter, the AP reported. | The students knelt before the Pope and kissed his hand, some visibly emotional. One gave him a letter, the AP reported. |
| He thanked rescue teams and medical staff for their response to the earthquake. | He thanked rescue teams and medical staff for their response to the earthquake. |
| Later, a crowd gathered to hear the Pope make a speech and give a prayer in L'Aquila. | Later, a crowd gathered to hear the Pope make a speech and give a prayer in L'Aquila. |
| It is the Pope's first visit to the quake-affected area. | It is the Pope's first visit to the quake-affected area. |
| L'Aquila camp three weeks on | L'Aquila camp three weeks on |
| He sent out greetings to those "suffering from the earthquake" when he celebrated Easter Mass on St Peter's Square in the Vatican earlier this month. | He sent out greetings to those "suffering from the earthquake" when he celebrated Easter Mass on St Peter's Square in the Vatican earlier this month. |
| He also sent chocolate Easter eggs to victims of the earthquake. | He also sent chocolate Easter eggs to victims of the earthquake. |
| The authorities have said it could be weeks, if not months, before it is known which of the houses left standing are safe enough to be repaired and which will have to be demolished. | The authorities have said it could be weeks, if not months, before it is known which of the houses left standing are safe enough to be repaired and which will have to be demolished. |