We hear in this Sunday's psalm of stones rejected becoming cornerstones and in the gospel choices of stones moved or rolled away. Residents of the historic city of L'Aquila in central Italy are struggling to find survivors amidst mounds of stone and rubble after a powerful earthquake struck early Monday morning.

Rescue workers continuing their search still held out hope to find somebody alive as the week wore on. Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said the rescue efforts would likely continue at least until Easter Sunday.

With 260 fatalities confirmed thus far, the quake's aftershocks sent new fears through the tent camps that shelter thousands of survivors. Since the quake, some 430 aftershocks have rumbled through, including some strong ones, said Marco Olivieri of the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology in Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday that he would visit the shocked and injured people of the area as soon as possible. The pope praised the relief operations as an example of how solidarity can help overcome "even the most painful trials." The Vatican said the pope would make the trip after Easter Sunday and that he does not want to interfere with relief operations.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said about 17,700 people left homeless by the quake had found shelter from the chill night air in the tent camps. An additional 10,000 people were housed in hotels along the coast, bringing the overall number of homeless to almost 28,000.

A funeral for the victims is scheduled for Friday morning and is to be conducted by L'Aquila Bishop Giuseppe Molinari. Fifteen people remain missing, officials said.

Source: An article by Vanessa Gera for the Associated Press