Priest pulled from rubble after Italy earthquake, testifies miracle survival

A Catholic priest who survived the massive earthquake that rocked Italy in the early hours of Wednesday morning and killed more than 240 people has testified he believes his survival was a miracle.

Rescuers pulled out Polish priest Fr. Krzysztof Kozlowski, who laid trapped underneath the rubbles of his home in Accumoli, where he's served for two years.

"This is a great miracle for me. I was miraculously saved, rescued by a rescue team. I was born anew," the Polish priest told Polish broadcaster TVN, as reported by the Associated Press.

According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the main earthquake registered at 6.2 and struck central Italy at 3:36 a.m. A series of aftershocks followed the main quake and continued for 12 hours, the strongest was a 5.5 magnitude tremor.

"Even as I was waiting for help, for someone to bring me out of the apartment, I could feel the tremors. I was afraid they could destroy whatever was left of my house," said Fr. Kozlowski.

Three nuns and an elderly woman, who stayed at a convent in Amatrice that collapsed from the tremor, also survived as they escaped the building holding each other's hands.

"They saved each other, they took their hands even while it was falling apart, and they ran, and they survived," said 32-year-old Sister Mariana.

Pope Francis expressed his sorrow for the tragic news and canceled his planned address for his weekly general audience. He decided to lead the 11,000 tourists and pilgrims at St. Patrick's Square to a prayer service instead.

"Having heard the mayor of Amatrice say, 'The town no longer exists,' and knowing that there are children among the dead, I am deeply saddened," Catholic News Service quoted the pope as saying.

Official reports tallied the death toll at 281 as of Friday.