Pope's aid to earthquake victims in New Zealand

(March 08, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI has donated $50,000 as a token of his closeness with those affected by the deadly earthquake that hit Christchurch, New Zealand, Feb. 22. The Pope asked the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Vatican's humanitarian relief agency, to send the money to assist victims there. A magnitude 6.3 earthquake rocked New Zealand's second-largest city last month, causing 166 confirmed deaths and widespread damage. Officials expect the toll to rise to more than 200 as rescuers continue to search for bodies in the rubble. During his weekly general audience of Wednesday, Feb. 23, Pope Benedict had expressed his closeness with the victims of the earthquake and urged rescue operations. At the same time, Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone had sent a message on the Pope’s behalf to Catholic Bishop Barry Jones of Christchurch, expressing the Holy Father’s condolence to mourning families and victims of the disaster.