AFRICA - The Holy See expresses gratitude to local Churches in Africa fighting Ebola

Thursday, 8 January 2015

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - " The Holy See wishes to express its appreciation to the local Catholic Church in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone for its timely response to the Ebola crisis. In order to strengthen these efforts, the Holy See is making a financial contribution", said a statement sent to Agenzia Fides by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The funds will support Church-sponsored structures with a view to increasing the assistance they offer via healthcare institutions, community initiatives and pastoral care of patients and healthcare professionals.
The increased commitment of the Church in fighting the spread of Ebola is described in the document "The enhanced commitment of the Catholic Church in combating the spread of Ebola", just published. "This document outlines, for the first time, a pastoral response to a relatively new disease that has devastated individuals, entire families and even communities, particularly in the West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia", said the document sent to Agenzia Fides.
The document states: "The commitment of the Catholic Church in response to the health crisis caused by the Ebola virus has been remarkable. The action of the local Church was immediate and tireless. Local resources, in terms of financial investment, goods and services to individuals, as well as the response of the volunteers, have been immediate and continue to be". In addition to the work of the Church in the region, this document details the work of Caritas Internationalis and its member organizations in addition to the efforts of Catholic agencies in various other countries, such as Missio Austria, and Misereor and the Medical Mission Institute (Germany).
In December, Cardinal Peter Kodwa Appiah, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, visited Liberia and Sierra Leone, while he could not reach Guinea due to the closure of borders and the lack of air links (see Fides 19/12/2014) and met church leaders and pastoral workers and health professionals engaged in Catholic structures in favor of the victims of Ebola. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 08/01/2015)


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