The Vatican has sent an eight-man squad from its fire brigade to help with rescue efforts in the central Italian region of Abruzzo following Monday's devastating earthquake there, Vatican Radio reported on Tuesday.
During a special broadcast on the earthquake, Vatican Police Chief Domenico Giani said that ''as soon as we heard the news of this immense tragedy I conferred with our superiors, Msgr Renato Boccardo and Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo. We then spoke with the Holy Father, the secretary of state (Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone) and with members of his office''.
''We felt it was our duty, in this moment of incredible sorrow, to also send a squad from our fire brigade to lend a hand in this great emergency,'' he added.
Vatican Radio also reported on Tuesday that Pope Benedict XVI was ''closely monitoring developments in the situation and praying for the victims, the survivors and rescue workers''.
