The Vatican only announced the Pope's visit to the quake zone shortly after his arrival in Amatrice on Tuesday morning, in keeping with Francis's previously stated wishes to keep the visit private.
"I didn't come earlier so as not to cause problems, given your condition," the Pope told survivors, according to Vatican Radio. "I didn't want to be a bother."
Photographs released by the Vatican show the Pope praying amid the rubble with Amatrice's medieval bell tower (below), still standing in what has become a symbol of hope, visible in the background.
He also met with a man who lost his wife and children in the quake, the Vatican said.
The 24 August quake also left another 4,000 people homeless.
From Amatrice, the Pope is expected to also visit the hard-hit towns of Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto.
