Pope Leo XIV Receives Copy of ‘The Other Stories of the Volcano’
The Pope Leo XIV has been presented with a copy of ‘The Other Stories of the Volcano,’ a charitable publication produced by the audiovisual company I Love The World. This book features 85 first-hand testimonies from individuals affected by the volcanic eruption in La Palma in 2021, as stated in a press release from the association Tierra Bonita. The book was handed to His Holiness by Manuel Asensio, a native of La Palma, director of Security at the Diocese of Tenerife, and the technical editor of the safety plans drawn up for the papal visit to the Diocese. This handover took place following a mass held on Friday, 12 June, at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, attended by over 35,000 people. During this event, Asensio managed to exchange a few words with Pope Leo XIV and present him with a copy of the publication.
Testimonies
This publication represents the largest collection of testimonies from victims of the volcanic disaster. It comprises 85 real stories, corresponding to the number of days the eruptive process lasted, narrated by individuals who directly experienced the volcano’s impacts. Many of these individuals lost their homes, businesses, personal belongings, or pets.
Tierra Bonita explains that through this gesture, Manuel Asensio aimed for the Pope to take away a piece of ‘La Isla Bonita’—which he could not visit during his trip to the Canaries—as well as a connection to his ancestors, some of whom hail from this very island. During his time in the Archipelago, Pope Leo XIV was gifted a genealogical study by the Government of the Canary Islands, tracing his roots to families in Santa Cruz de La Palma in the 16th century and later in Cuba, via his tenth great-grandmother born on the island.
Letter to the Pope
The book was accompanied by a note addressed to the Pope, expressing the hope that its pages would serve to remind readers that “behind every emergency, there are people, families, and life projects that deserve to be heard, accompanied, and protected.” The proceeds from the sale of ‘The Other Stories of the Volcano’ will be entirely allocated to initiatives supporting the population impacted by the eruption of La Palma.
Additionally, Tierra Bonita recalls that the Pope’s predecessor, Francis, repeatedly expressed support for those affected during and after the eruption.
