Pope Francis Makes Surprise Visit to Earthquake-Struck Italian Town

— -- Pope Francis visited the central Italian town of Amatrice, which was devastated by a major earthquake in August, comforting the survivors and speaking with emergency responders.

One elderly woman, described as being homeless by the Vatican press office, appeared to break down in tears as the pope held her hand and touched her forehead.

Accompanied by the bishop of Rieti, Monsignor Domenico Pompili, Francis visited a school, then moved to the red zone, an area that has been sealed off for safety reasons since it was almost completely leveled in the 6.2 magnitude quake on Aug. 24.

Sunday on a flight from Baku, Azerbaijan, Francis told reporters that he planned to visit Amatrice "privately, alone, like a priest, bishop, pope. But alone."

"That is how I want to do it," he said. "And I want to be near the people."

During his Angelus on Aug. 28, Francis expressed his "spiritual closeness to the people of Lazio, Marche and Umbria, which were hard hit by the earthquake in these days."

"Once again I say to these dear people that the church shares their suffering and their worries," he said. "Dear brothers and sisters, as soon as I can, I too hope to come and meet you, to bring you the comfort of faith, the embrace of a father and brother and the support of Christian hope."