Pope Francis said he was praying on Friday for those killed and bereaved by the 8.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Mexico and by Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean.

"I wish to express my spiritual closeness to all those suffering the consequences of the earthquake that struck Mexico last night... My prayers for those who have lost their lives and their families," Francis said at a mass in Colombia.

He added that he was "closely following the development of Hurricane Irma... I am praying for them."

source: AFP