"Cor Unum": Instrument
of the POPE's Charity
Among its institutional competencies, the Dicastery is to endeavor, "whenever the Supreme Pontiff considers that some special activities or initiatives should be undertaken in the charitable sphere, to assist him diligently and be, as it were, his instrument for putting such activities of initiatives speedily into effect." (Pope Paul VI, Apostolic Letter Amoris officio, July 15, 1971). Pope John Paul II, in the Apostolic Constitution Pastor bonus of June 28, 1988, affirmed Cor Unum's mission "to follow attentively and to promote projects and works of integral care and fraternal assistance with the goal of human progress". The following tables summarize the facts and figures of the Dicastery's various initiatives, representing the aid made available by the Pope in different situations. These include assistance to populations of disaster-stricken countries and support of projects for integral human promotion. The last two tables contain information regarding the two Foundations entrusted by Pope John Paul II to Cor Unum.
Emergencies (Natural or Man-made Disasters)
| YEAR |
AID TOTALS IN US DOLLARS
|
NO. OF RECIPIENT COUNTRIES
|
| 1999 |
1,211,600
|
28 Countries |
| 2000 |
1,027,000
|
29 Countries |
| 2001 |
1,274,000
|
30 Countries |
| 2002 |
1,917,700
|
49 Countries |
| 2003 |
822,465
|
23 Countries |
| 2004 |
1,425,030
|
40 Countries |
| 2005 |
1,439,000 |
15 Countries |
| 2006 |
3,805,630 |
28 Countries |
| 2007 |
1,486,273 |
16 Countries |
| 2008 |
1,763,320 |
31 Countries |
| 2009 |
1,869,000 |
25 Countries |
| 2010 |
1,450,271 |
25 Countries |
| 2011 |
1,819,557 |
26 Countries |
| 2012 |
2,025,596 |
19 Countries |
| 2013 |
1,121,767 |
14 Countries |
| 2014 |
611,080 |
20 Countries |
Integral Human Promotion
| YEAR |
AID TOTALS IN US DOLLARS
|
NO. OF RECIPIENT COUNTRIES
|
| 1999 |
555,100
|
23 Countries |
| 2000 |
888,805
|
38 Countries |
| 2001 |
841,200
|
38 Countries |
| 2002 |
1,936,000
|
48 Countries |
| 2003 |
858,223
|
33 Countries |
| 2004 |
2,531,365 |
50 Countries |
| 2005 |
1,663,813 |
44 Countries |
| 2006 |
4,187,147 |
43 Countries |
| 2007 |
2,009,250 |
46 Countries |
| 2008 |
2,372,938 |
40 Countries |
| 2009 |
2,304,000 |
45 Countries |
| 2010 |
2,040,174 |
40 Countries |
| 2011 |
2,304,925 |
32 Countries |
| 2012 |
1,253,892 |
30 Countries |
| 2013 |
824,577 |
24 Countries |
| 2014 |
1,610,435 |
16 Countries |
John Paul II for the Sahel Foundation
| YEAR |
AID TOTALS IN US DOLLARS
|
NO. OF PROJECTS FINANCED
|
NO. OF RECIPIENT COUNTRIES
|
| 1999 |
3,600,000
|
209 |
9 Countries |
| 2000 |
2,992,097
|
312 |
9 Countries |
| 2001 |
1,974,305
|
230 |
9 Countries |
| 2002 |
2,824,673
|
233 |
9 Countries |
| 2003 |
2,969,168
|
235 |
9 Countries |
| 2004 |
2,125,388
|
169 |
9 Countries |
| 2005 |
2,067,339 |
180 |
9 Countries |
| 2006 |
2,421,410 |
190 |
9 Countries |
| 2007 |
2,506,820 |
192 |
9 Countries |
| 2008 |
2,311,441 |
208 |
9 Countries |
| 2009 |
2,300,000 |
213 |
9 Countries |
| 2010 |
1,860,000 |
176 |
9 Countries |
| 2011 |
1,860,000 |
167 |
9 Countries |
| 2012 |
1,560,000 |
131 |
9 Countries |
| 2013 |
1,618,243 |
131 |
9 Countries |
| 2014 |
1,560,000 to be funded |
122 |
9 Countries |
"Populorum Progressio" Foundation (Serving poor indigenous, mixed, and Afro-American farmers [campesinos] in Latin America and the Caribbean)
| YEAR |
AID TOTALS IN US DOLLARS
|
NO. OF PROJECTS FINANCED
|
NO. OF RECIPIENT COUNTRIES |
| 1999 |
1,705,890
|
215 |
20 Countries |
| 2000 |
1,923,500
|
209 |
17 Countries |
| 2001 |
1,773,700
|
216 |
19 Countries |
| 2002 |
1,895,300
|
223 |
19 Countries |
| 2003 |
1,843,200
|
221 |
21 Countries |
| 2004 |
1,881,000
|
231 |
19 Countries |
| 2005 |
1,876,200 |
212 |
20 Countries |
| 2006 |
1,820,500 |
215 |
20 Countries |
| 2007 |
1,885,700 |
204 |
19 Countries |
| 2008 |
2,108,300 |
200 |
18 Countries |
| 2009 |
2,128,500 |
193 |
20 Countries |
| 2010 |
2,091,500 |
186 |
20 Countries |
| 2011 |
2.102.500 |
189 |
19 Countries |
| 2012 |
1,736,500 |
164 |
19 Countries |
| 2013 |
1,995,000 |
171 |
19 Countries |
| 2014 |
1,802,000
to be funded |
123 |
17 Countries |
Special Initiatives
In preparation for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, the Pontifical Council completed two special appeals with the Holy Father's permission: "100 Projects of the Holy Father" and "Panis Caritatis".
100 Projects of the Holy Father
On the journey toward conversion and sharing in preparation for the Great Jubilee of 2000, the Pope proclaimed 1999 to be a "Year of Charity". In response to this, Cor Unum turned to the Particular Churches (Dioceses) in the richer countries and asked them to support 100 projects in the Particular Churches of poorer countries according to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. In reality, the number of projects presented and supported exceeded 200, for a total value of around (US) $20,000,000, and included a number of Catholic aid agencies sent to developing countries. One of the most important and enduring effects of the initiative was the pairing of Dioceses, many of which continue to collaborate together.
Panis Caritatis
This initiative was aimed at encouraging the Christian community to share their "daily bread" with those in greatest need, making the simple act of eating bread together as a family a moment to think concretely about so many in the world who suffer from hunger. The sum collected reached nearly one billion Italian lire, and went to finance projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (construction of community ovens), Rwanda (reconstruction of homes, replacement of livestock, education of the poorest orphaned children), the Sudan (aid to the population afflicted by hunger), Guinea Bissau (safeguarding health of mothers and children), Uganda (help for Sudanese refugees), and Republic of the Congo (woodworking shops).
|
