Pope Francis visits earthquake survivors in Italy

Pope Francis on Tuesdaymade a surprise visit to Amatrice, one of the towns hardest hit by an earthquake that struck central Italy in August, killing nearly 300 people.

The Vatican kept the trip secret until he arrived. The Pope first visited a makeshift school and was then due to see people who have been forced to live in tents, with most of the buildings in Amatrice either levelled or considered too badly damaged to live in.

• CBC IN ITALY l Trying to mourn dead after quake leaves graves open

He later visited the so-called red zone,which covers the centre of Amatrice and is closed off to the public because it is still highly dangerous.

The visit is taking place on the feast of the Pope's namesake, St. Francis of Assisi.

On the plane returning from Azerbaijan on Sunday, Francis said he had been given a choice of three days when he could visit, but would not reveal which one he had chosen.

He said at the time he wanted the visit to be "privately, alone, as a priest, as a bishop, as Pope, but alone, privately. I want to be close to the people."

The earthquake, which struck on Aug. 24, flattened several towns and villages in the Lazio and Marche regions northeast of Rome and caused at least fourbillion euros ($4.5 billion US) in damage, according to government estimates.

• Italian officials probe if building code infractions raised death toll