VATICAN - Holy Father makes appeal for Haiti, “that these our brothers and sisters who are experiencing a moment of need and suffering may not lack our concrete solidarity”; support of the Church in Italy

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – At the close of the General Audience on Wednesday, January 13, the Holy Father Benedict XVI launched the following appeal for Haiti: “I now wish to make an appeal for the dramatic situation currently being experienced in Haiti. My thoughts go in particular to the population hit just a few hours ago by a devastating earthquake which has caused serious loss of human life, large numbers of homeless and missing people, and vast material damage. I invite everyone to join my prayers to the Lord for the victims of this catastrophe and for those who mourn their loss. I give assurances of my spiritual closeness to people who have lost their homes and to everyone who, in various ways, has been affected by this terrible calamity, imploring God to bring them consolation and relief in their suffering. I appeal to the generosity of all people, so that these our brothers and sisters who are experiencing a moment of need and suffering may not lack our concrete solidarity and the effective support of the international community. The Catholic Church will not fail to move immediately, through her charitable institutions, to meet the most immediate needs of the population."
The Church in Italy has also expressed her closeness to the people of Haiti. Through a statement, the President of the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI) has asked “the ecclesial community to pray for those affected by this tragic event and to support charitable initiatives promoted by the Italian Caritas, with the aim of alleviating the sufferings of the population. In addition, to meet the initial emergency and basic needs of people affected by the earthquake, the President of the CEI has allocated two million Euros of funds derived from an eight per thousand. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 14/1/2010)