Pope prays for victims of Peru's earthquake

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict offered prayers on Thursday for the victims of Peru's earthquake and called for immediate assistance for the hundreds of people who were injured or made homeless.

"(The Pope) encourages institutions and people of goodwill to offer the necessary help to those harmed, with a spirit of Christian solidarity and charity," the Vatican said in a telegram, signed by Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone.

The 7.9-magnitude quake struck on Wednesday evening about 90 miles southeast of Lima at a depth of around 25 miles .

It was followed by nine aftershocks ranging in magnitude from 6 to the upper 4s, according to an official with the U.S. Geological Survey.