Japan’s Bishops hold emergency meeting,

(March 16, 2011) The Bishops of Japan held an emergency meeting in the country’s quake devastated city of Sendai on Wednesday (16 March).The President of Caritas Japan, Bishop Isao Kikuchi attended the meeting, the agenda of which consisted of two points: how to help the victims, and what to do, as the Catholic church, at such a tragic point in the country’s history.The Bishops noted that young people from all the dioceses of Japan are continually coming to Caritas, to offer help as volunteers to bring aid to the areas most affected by the disaster. The prelates said that this is an important sign that gives them hope for the future.
The Bishops Conference of Japan received a message of condolences and solidarity from the Congregation of the Evangelisation of Peoples. The Congregation, which is closely following the developments of Japan’s tragic situation,and is in close contact with the Church there, expressed its closeness and concern to the people. It assured them of its constant prayer and its readiness to meet the needs of the Church in Japan. Similar sentiments were expressed by the Prefect of the Congregation, Indian Cardinal Ivan Dias to the Apostolic Nuncio in Japan.