VATICAN - Taiwan hosts spiritual exercises for 450 leaders of charitable activities in the Church in Asia, promoted by the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - From 6 to 11 September the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" held spiritual exercises for presidents and directors of the Church's ministry of charity throughout Asia. According to a communique released by the Pontifical Council, the event was attended by 450 participants from 29 nations and 260 dioceses, including six cardinals and sixty bishops. It took place at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taipei and focused on Jesus's words: "You did it to me ..." (Mt 25, 40). The participants were also welcomed by the President of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou.
Participants prayed in a special way for those struck recently by Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan. On 6 September Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, President of "Cor Unum", traveled to the worst hit area of Kaohsiung in order to visit personally and bring the Lord's consolation to those affected by the tragedy.
The Holy Father Benedict XVI dedicated his first encyclical to charity, in “Deus Caritas Est” (2005). The Pope showed that the essential requirement for those who carry out services in charitable organizations in the Church is that they “be persons moved by Christ's love, persons whose hearts Christ has conquered with his love, awakening within them a love of neighbor” (no. 33). This gift of God is the hidden motor that drives the charitable activity through the response of faith, illumined by the Gospel, which moves Christians to practice love for their neighbor. This is what the Pope calls for a “formation of the heart” (DCE, no. 31a) for charitable workers, whether they be volunteers or professionals. The participants in the spiritual exercises in Taipei wished to take up the Pope's invitation, dedicating these days to prayer, attentive listening to the Word of God, the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance, and the Holy Mass.
In a Message to the participants, transmitted by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., the Holy Father Benedict XVI manifested “his warm appreciation and gratitude for all those who commit themselves to the 'diakonia' of charity, an essential activity of the life of the Church and a responsibility for the entire ecclesial community.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 16/9/2009)