VATICAN CITY, JULY 17, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Leaders of the Populorum Progressio Foundation are planning to meet at the end of the month to discuss funding projects to support poor communities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
A Vatican communiqué reported today that the foundation’s administrative council will hold their annual meeting at the Schwerte Catholic Academy in Germany from July 27 to 31.
Council members will consider financing projects for communities of poor indigenous mixed races and Afro-American rural communities.
The communiqué reported that these meetings «traditionally take place by rotation in the Latin American countries of origin of the members of the administrative council.»
Having completed a rotation, it continued, Germany was chosen for the meeting location this year as the country of origin of Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, president of the foundation and the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.
As well, the statement affirmed, this move aims to give the foundation visibility in Europe.
The organization has been financing projects focused on integral human development through donations given by benefactors across the globe.
It reported that this year 231 projects from 20 countries have been presented for aid.
These proposals include projects from different sectors: manufacturing — agricultural implements, production and marketing — health care, professional training, creation of community centers, education and the construction of rural homes.
The countries that have presented the largest number of projects are: Colombia (52), Brazil (45), Peru (32) and Ecuador (17).
Other nations giving proposals for assistance include: Bolivia (12), El Salvador (12), Haiti (11), Mexico (9), Guatemala (7), Argentina (6), Chile (6), Costa Rica (5), Nicaragua (3), Dominican Republic (3), Venezuela (3), Cuba (2), Honduras (2), Paraguay (2), Panama (1) and Uruguay (1).
The administrative council president is Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico.
Monsignor Giovanni Battista Gandolfo will also participate in the meeting as the president of the Italian bishops’ conference committee for charitable initiatives in favour of the Third World, the main supporter of the foundation.
