Papal envoy begins visit to Japan’s earthquake affected areas

(May 12, 2011) Two months after the terrible earthquake that hit Japan, Papal envoy Cardinal Robert Sarah, leaves on Friday (May 13) on a three day visit to the country’s affected regions. Cardinal Sarah, President of Vatican’s Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Catholic Church’s charitable organization, who is travelling on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI, will convey the Holy Father’s prayers, good wishes and assistance to all the family members of victims, to displaced persons and to all the volunteers, who are working tirelessly to rebuild the country. Caritas Japan is the reference point for all the aid that the Catholic Church continues to give after the emergency phase for the reconstruction of Japan and its people. Cardinal Sarah on Saturday (May 14) will travel to Saitama to visit the Church centers for the homeless . Then he will proceed to the Japanese capital - Tokyo, where together with the local bishops, he will concelebrate a thanksgiving Mass for the beatification of Pope John Paul II in Rome. On Sunday (May 15) he will be in Sendai, the epicenter of the disaster, where he will preside at Mass in the cathedral. On Monday (May 16) Cardinal Sarah will visit two other shelters for the homeless and meet there with the heads of the largest charitable organizations. Cardinal Sarah will be accompanied by Bishop Segundo Tejado Munoz, the Under Secretary of Cor Unum.