Haiti's nunciature still standing

(January 15, 2010) The apostolic nuncio to Haiti has reported that amid extensive destruction in the capital Port-au-Prince following Tuesday’s earthquake, the nunciature managed to remain standing. Archbishop Bernardito Auzas spoke to the Vatican’s Fides news agency narrating the widespread devastation caused on Tuesday in the country's capital by the 7.0-magnitude quake. "The cathedral, the archbishopric, all the important churches and all the seminaries [buildings] have been reduced to rubble," he said. Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot of Port-au-Prince was among those killed in the collapse. The nuncio added that many seminarians and priests also died under the rubble, though the cathedral's parish priest was able to escape. The Apostolic Nuncio went and met Haitian President Rene Preval and expressed his condolences and solidarity. The president’s palace and private home were destroyed but the president and his family were saved as they were out. Some 50 countries have also sent support to the impoverished nation in the form of volunteer aid workers, pledges of money and material resources, but the congested airport and total breakdown of communication and infrastructure in the country is preventing badly need aid reaching the affected people.