Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Pontifical Council “Cor Unum,” the Dicastery of the Holy See in charge of carrying out the charitable initiatives of the Holy Father, has issued a statement saying that they sent a personal concrete sign from the Holy Father to support and assist the small yet devout Catholics of Gaza. “The aid has been sent to Fr. Manuel Musallam, pastor of the Church of the Holy Family, to the Missionaries of Charity, and to other religious congregation serving the most vulnerable people in the birthplace of Jesus, now tragically afflicted by death, suffering, destruction, while the people weep for peace.”
The same Pontiifical Council has also said that, upon the invitation of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, will visit the Philippines January 19-24, on the occasion of the Bishops' Plenary Assembly taking place in Manila. The Cardinal will join the Bishops in reflecting on several theological themes from Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical “Deus caritas est,” as well as to gather useful resources for the Pontifical Council on a worldwide level, from the activities of the local Dioceses. In the course of the visit, Cardinal Cordes hold various meetings and conferences on charity, with priests, seminarians, leaders and workers from charitable institutions, and lay groups. He will also meet with the President of the Philippines and receive a honorary degree from the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in Manila, the oldest university in Asia and one of the largest Catholic universities in the world. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 19/1/2009)
