PRESS RELEASE

 POPE BENEDICT'S FIRST ENCYCLICAL IS PRESENTED IN THE UNITED STATES BY ARCHBISHOP CORDES, PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL "COR UNUM"

 Archbishop Cordes has gone to the United States to speak on the most appropriate and concrete ways of following the guidelines of Pope Benedict's Encyclical. A few months ago the World Conference on Charity organised by "Cor Unum" in the Vatican took place as well as the presentation in the Press Office of the Holy See of the Encyclical, Deus caritas est. The topics will be discussed in three cities of the United States. These are Madison, Detroit, and Washington.

 The President of "Cor Unum" will speak on September 19, in Madison, Wisconsin, in the northern US. On the 21st in Detroit a conference will take place at the Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He will then go to Washington, DC and, on Sept. 23, together with Cardinal Dulles, will present the Encyclical at Georgetown University.

 American Catholics were very impressed with the appeal made by Pope Benedict XVI through Deus caritas est: the simplicity and compassion with which the Pope described the experience of eros and agape aroused great interest. Moreover, by repeatedly making reference to his Encyclical, the Holy Father recalls the need for ongoing study on its themes.

 The United States are home to great Catholic aid organizations. The trip coincides with the renewed interest towards the true sense of life and the rediscovery of the roots of charity. It is well known that Americans have deep feelings for their suffering fellow human beings.

Vatican City, September 15, 2006