Pope Benedict XVI sends envoy with $1.3 million to fund pastoral centre in Nazareth

(15 Dec. 2006) : Pope Benedict XVI sent on Wednesday Archbishop Paul J. Cordes, the president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum", as his goodwill envoy to the Holy Land along with a donation of more than 1.3 million US Dollars. The funds, collected from German Catholics during the pope's visit to Bavaria in September, will be used for a new pastoral center in the Israeli town of Nazareth. The pastoral complex of more than 300,000 square feet will be located near the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, and will provide lodging facilities, activity spaces for young people and families, areas for religious instruction and meetings, and a sports field. "It will be a true center of life for Christians and a point of reference for pilgrims. The trip will demonstrate the spiritual closeness of the Holy Father to the Christian community and will bring them a gift in the Pope's name," the Vatican statement said while announcing the gift.