At the weekend, Pope Benedict XVI sent a charitable donation of $100,000 U.S. dollars
to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan to help victims of the devastating earthquake
and tsunami that struck the Asian nation last Friday.
Msgr. Anthony Figueiredo,
an official at the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Vatican office responsible for
papal donations to charities, told Vatican Radio’s Tracey McClure that they are working
closely with the bishops, Caritas Internationalis and other aid organisations to determine
how to respond to the greatest needs of Japan’s people.
Calling it “a major
tragedy,” Msgr. Figueiredo cited Japan as the latest in a string of major disasters,
including the 2004 tsunami in Asia, a devastating earthquake and flooding in Pakistan
and the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti a little more than a year ago.
“The
first thing we must do is really to pray… for these people to give them hope.” He
said.
“Obviously, material, concrete aid is necessary. The Holy Father has
sent through this Pontifical Council the sum of one hundred thousand dollars to the
(Japanese) Bishops’ Conference simply because this is the quickest way the funds can
get to those dioceses most affected. Also the bishops are the first responsible for
charity in the diocese and they know the needs of the people.”
“We are keeping
a close monitor on the needs… Often there’s the immediate response which is good.
The Holy Father himself asked for this immediate response. But then in time, the
tragedy is often forgotten. This is what we experienced in Haiti… so the Church wants
to be there not only in the short term but especially in the long term where many
of the secular agencies have gone and there’s no one to help.”