ROME—Throughout September 2016, Jehovah’s Witnesses distributed an edition of the Watchtower magazine focused on comfort. The cover series entitled “Where Can You Find Comfort?” was the key feature of the Witnesses’ global campaign. The Witnesses have been making special efforts to offer Bible-based comfort in central Italy, where a magnitude 6.2 earthquake violently shook the regions of Lazio, Marche, and Umbria on August 24, 2016, killing almost 300 people and displacing over 2,000.

Christian Di Blasio, a spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Italy, states: “This global campaign was designed to offer comfort to people in all countries and circumstances, but here in Italy, we are especially alert to the difficulties facing victims of the earthquake, as well as those involved in the relief work.”

Although there are 15 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses located in the disaster area, no Witnesses died or were severely injured. However, three of the Witnesses’ houses were destroyed, and others were damaged. Mr. Di Blasio revealed that some of the Witnesses whose homes were damaged volunteered to offer comfort to their neighbors using the magazine. Additionally, Witnesses who survived a previous earthquake volunteered to speak with victims. Mr. Di Blasio states: “The volunteers have expressed that the Bible’s message has been a positive and comforting influence in their lives, and they want to do as much as they can to share this comfort with others in the community who are suffering.”

Media Contacts:

International: David A. Semonian, Office of Public Information, 1-718-560-5000

Italy: Christian Di Blasio, 39-06-872941