19 Apr 2009

Pope to visit quake zone

8:37 am on 19 April 2009

Pope Benedict is to visit the site of an earthquake in central Italy which claimed 295 lives and made at least 50,000 homeless.

The Vatican says he will travel to the Abruzzo region by helicopter on 28 April.

Pope Benedict is to visit a tent camp for survivors outside the ruined village of Onna. He will also see the ruins of a student hostel in L'Aquila and the city's badly damaged Basilica of Collemaggio.

The BBC reports the pontiff offered prayers at Easter for those affected by the quake, which occurred on 6 April.

In January 1998, Pope John Paul II made a pilgrimage to Assisi after a quake heavily damaged the town, which is the birthplace of St Francis.