Vatican Aid Group for Africa Gives $2M to 200 Projects
(March 01, 2012) The administrative council of the John Paul II Foundation for the
Sahel (the sub-Saharan region of Africa which includes countries on the west coast
and central part of the continent) recently concluded its thirtieth meeting in Rome.
Speaking on Vatican Radio last week, Msgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, secretary of the Pontifical
Council "Cor Unum", of which the foundation is part, explained that the administrative
council had focused its attention on the financing of a number of projects. "This
year", he said, "we have assigned over two million dollars for more than 200 projects
in the nine countries which make up the foundation. These projects involve the struggle
against desertification and drought, as well as irrigation and education". Msgr.
Dal Toso noted that the re-emergence of the problem of drought in the Sahel highlights
the urgency of the measures taken. The lack of food resulting from the impact of drought
on agriculture "will reach its peak in the coming months. Both the international
community and, more specifically, a number of Catholic organisations are seeking to
intervene to prevent this crisis, he said. The secretary of "Cor Unum" pointed out
that the Church represents a minority in the countries of the Sahel, in an environment
characterised by the presence of Islam and of traditional religions. For this reason
the John Paul II Foundation also serves as "an instrument of dialogue with other religions.
The John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel came into being following that Pope's first
trip to Africa in May 1980, where he was greatly struck by the tragic consequences
of desertification.