About 1,500 people were injured in the quake, measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale hit the mountainous region of Abruzzo early Monday.
The country's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said 17,000 people in the region had been made homeless. The quake affected 26 cities and towns in the region, with some villages being totally destroyed.
The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers struggle to find survivors who may be trapped under the rubble. Aftershocks reported on Tuesday and Wednesday are hampering the rescue efforts.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church said he wanted to show his personal support and consolation to those who had been affected by the catastrophe.
However, Father Federico Lombardo, a spokesman for the Vatican told the Ansa website that it was unlikely the pope would be able to visit the region before the Easter holidays, which start on Friday, due to his heavy work schedule.
