Pope Francis prays for Philippines typhoon victims

Pope Francis on Thursday led a prayer for the victims and wounded in Typhoon Phanfone in the Philippines. Speaking to a crowd of faithful from the window of the papal apartment above St. Peter's Square, Francis led the faithful in a recitation of the Hail Mary prayer.

Typhoon Phanfone barrelled through the central Philippines on Wednesday leaving at least 20 people dead and forcing thousands to flee their homes, devastating Christmas celebrations in the predominantly Catholic country.

The pope also called on Christian communities to remember the poor and young in prayer in honour of the St. Stephen's holiday.

He said that "Stephen was a deacon, one of the first seven deacons of the church. He teaches us to spread the word of Christ through gestures of fraternity and of evangelical charity."

He further urged Christian communities not to put themselves at the centre put to reach out to the "existential and geographic peripheries."

Saint Stephen is considered the first martyr of the Catholic Church who was captured and stoned to death for his faith.

Vatican officials estimated there were 25,000 people in St. Peter's Square for Thursday's Angelus prayer.