VISIT OF ARCHBISHOP CORDES TO EL SALVADOR

(22-27 January 2001)

His Excellency, Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, President of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" will arrive in El Salvador on 23 January 2001. The purpose of the trip is to express the comfort and concern of the Holy Father to the victims of the earthquake which recently struck that country.

Along with the Apostolic Nuncio to El Salvador, His Excellency Archbishop Giacinto Berloco, Archbishop Cordes will meet with some families impacted by the earthquake and in the afternoon of Wednesday, 24 January, will celebrate Mass in the Cathedral of San Salvador for the victims of the earthquake. In meetings with the Archbishop of San Salvador, His Excellency Archbishop Fernando Saenz Lacalle and other members of the Episcopal Conference, he will deliver a gift of the Holy Father amounting to US $100,000, a sign of the closeness of His Holiness to this suffering population.

On the same day, Archbishop Cordes will visit the President of the Republic, Mr. Francisco Flores, and the institutions responsible for emergencies and for the cleanup and reconstruction of the impacted area.

A meeting is also planed with the representatives of various Catholic organisations and agencies involved in assistance among which are found various national Caritas organisations and "Manos Unidas" along with other NGOs.


Vatican City, 20 January 2001