PRESS RELEASE

ON THE OCCASION OF THE VISIT

OF HIS EMINENCE PAUL JOSEF CARDINAL CORDES

TO THE UNITED STATES

(September 25 - 29, 2010)

At the invitation of Catholic Charities USA, Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, will deliver the keynote address at the gathering in Washington DC from September 25 – 29 to mark the 100-year anniversary of its founding. The Cardinal will reflect on the faith roots of the Church’s charitable commitment and the need to nurture the specific identity of ecclesial organizations, as reaffirmed by the first Encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, “God is Love.”

Catholic Charities USA, with more than 1,700 agencies and institutions operating in local dioceses, provides vital outreach to some 9 million people a year of all religious, social and economic backgrounds. Pope Benedict "prays that the present anniversary will be an occasion for gratitude to Almighty God for the abundant harvest of generosity, solidarity and good works reaped." (Letter of 11 August 2010 from the Cardinal Secretary of State to Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes). His Holiness encourages charity personnel to “see their work as a tangible witness of their faith in Christ.” (Ibid.)

As part of the visit, Cardinal Cordes will have meetings and deliver lectures on charity, social doctrine and the priesthood in the Archdioceses of New York and Newark and Dioceses of the Province of Connecticut.



Bollettino della Sala Stampa della Santa Sede N. 566/2010, 22.09.2010