Pope Benedict XVI encourages Haitians on 1st anniversary of quake

1 year ago Wednesday, a powerful earthquake devastated the capital and surrounding areas of the impoverished Caribbean island nation, Haiti, killing more than a quarter-million people and setting an enormous international relief effort in motion.

Pope Benedict XVI has sent a message to the people of Haiti with his special envoy to the country, the President of the Pontifical Council cor unum, Cardinal Robert Sarah.

In his message, the Pope promises his continued spiritual closeness to all those affected, and encourages the people of Haiti to remain strong in the face of continuing difficulties.

Also on Wednesday, the Holy Father named the former bishop of Les Cayes, Guire Poulard, to the see of Port au Prince, naming at the same time the pastor of the cathedral parish and director of Caritas Haiti, Mons. Erick Toussaint, auxiliary bishop of Port au Prince.

Meanwhile, the massive relief effort is slowly entering the reconstruction phase.

“In the first three months we managed to save a lot of lives – a lot of lives that would have been lost,” said Caritas Internationalis Communications Chief Patrick Nicholson, whose organization was on the ground before the quake and has stayed on Haiti, expanding operations in partnership with other Catholic and international aid organisations.

“Now,” says Nicholson, “we are looking at reconstruction efforts.” Asked what the most important element to the success of reconstruction is, Nicholson responded, “Stable government.”

Haiti has struggled to repair its national discourse after a contentious campaign and difficult general election.

Pope Benedict XVI's envoy, Cardinal Sarah, is travelling with a donation of more than $1 million for the recovery effort.

Listen to Chris Altieri’s interview with Patrick Nicholson: