MANILA (UCAN) -- The Vatican secretary of state has sent a message to the Philippine bishops expressing the pope's sympathy for Filipinos affected by recent typhoons that have left more than 1,000 people dead or missing.

In the letter Cardinal Angelo Sodano wrote, "The Holy Father was deeply saddened by the news of the great loss of life caused by the typhoon and floods which have struck the Philippines."

Pope John Paul II "asks you kindly to express his sympathy to the civil and religious authorities and all affected by this disaster," says the letter addressed to Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao, president of the Catholic bishops' Conference of the Philippines. UCA News received a copy of the letter on Dec. 4.

Cardinal Sodano wrote that "with prayers for the victims and their families," the pope "asks Almighty God to grant peace and consolation to the homeless, the suffering and those involved in the difficult task of relief."

Nanmadol, a typhoon, and Winnie, a tropical depression, hit the northern Philippines on Dec. 2 and Nov. 29, respectively. The worst-hit areas lie east of the Manila area. As of Dec. 6, the National Disaster Coordinating Council reported that Winnie caused the deaths of 530 people, with 607 others reported missing. Nanmadol reportedly left 38 dead, 41 injured and 33 missing.

However, the Philippine Army reports that just in Quezon province, 70 kilometers east of Manila, 607 have died and 695 are still missing.

Father Charlito Colendres, chancellor of Infanta prelature, which covers northern Quezon province, died while trying to help victims of Winnie.

Meanwhile, relief aid has been pouring in.

Manila archdiocese's social action office has been collecting relief goods and on Dec. 1 began sending out aid packages of clothes, rice, noodles, sardines and candles for 5,000 families.

The governments of Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Ireland, along with various U.N. agencies, have pledged over US$220,000 in aid. The money is to be used to purchase and distribute food, clothing, and shelter to victims.

The Philippine government has expressed the need for blankets, canned goods, clothing, medicine, temporary shelters/tents and water, according to the United Nations' Development Program Office in Manila. In addition, rubber boats and additional helicopter units also are needed to transport relief items, since trucks cannot enter flooded areas until water levels subside.

Four days after the last typhoon, however, military officials reported that inclement weather continued to hamper government relief operations in ravaged Quezon towns.

Helicopters, each loaded with almost 2,300 kilograms of relief goods, were not able to take off due to strong winds, Philippine Air Force spokesperson Lt. Col. Restituto Padilla Jr. told reporters in a military camp northeast of Manila. Meanwhile, strong waves prevented two ships from sailing to Infanta with relief goods, Navy spokesperson Captain Geronimo Malabanan said.

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