ROME, JULY 20, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Unsure how to make charitable donations truly arrive to a worthy destination? Try sending them through the Pope.
Millions of dollars each year are distributed by the Holy Father, through the Pontifical Council Cor Unum. In this way, the Successor of Peter is able to manifest the solicitude of the universal Church for needy populations.
There are a handful of channels that direct the funds to projects deemed most needy. The funds themselves come from donors around the globe. The Pontifical Council Cor Unum, established by Pope Paul VI in 1971, coordinates the initiatives of Catholic charitable institutions.
On Thursday, for example, the president of the council, Cardinal Paul Cordes, will bring a donation to Haiti for the reconstruction of a school destroyed in the January earthquake.
In this case, his delegation will be formed by members of the Papal Foundation Populorum Progressio, which aids with projects for the most disadvantaged populations of Latin America and the Caribbean.
A Cor Unum statement explains that donations such as this demonstrate «the spiritual and paternal closeness of the Universal Church to the populations in developing countries, encouraging the integral promotion of the human person, and contributing to projects in favor of children, women, the elderly, the disabled, and those in greatest need.»
In addition to the Populorum Progressio Foundation, there are groups like the Foundation for the Sahel, established by Pope John Paul II in 1984 to help Africa.
The aid figures are notable. To respond to natural or man-made disasters, for example, donations over the last few years have amounted to $1.86 million (2009 in assistance of 25 countries), $1.76 million (2008 in assistance to 31 countries), and $1.48 million (2007 in assistance to 16 countries).
For projects that aid integral human development, the figures are similar: $2.3 million in 2009 (assisting 45 countries), $2.37 million in 2008 (40 countries), and just over $2 million in 2007 (46 countries).
People who desire to participate in these projects can do so by sending a bank-transfer donation.
The Pontifical Council Cor Unum can be supported at the following banks. The council asks that donors provide their names and addresses, as well as the designation for where the gift is to be used.
— Bank transfers in currencies other than euros (€) and made from outside Italy, (including U.S., Canadian, and Australian dollars, the British pound, etc).
Pontifical Council «Cor Unum»
Account Number: 603035
Bank: Banco Posta, Poste Italiane S.p.A.
Bank Address: Viale Europa, 175; I-00144 Rome, Italy
BIC-SWIFT Code for Banca Popolare di Sondrio: POSOIT22XXX
— Donations from within Italy:
Postal Account (conto corrente postale) n. 603035 of the Italian Post Office (Poste Italiane);
Check made out or donation designated to: Pontificio Consiglio COR UNUM
V – 00120 Città del Vaticano.
— Bank transfers in euros (€) from Italy:
Pontifical Council «Cor Unum»
Account Number: 603035
Bank: Banco Posta, Poste Italiane S.p.A.
Bank Address: Viale Europa, 175; I-00144 Rome, Italy
IBAN Code: IT20 S 07601 03200 000000 603035
— Bank transfers in euros (€) from outside Italy:
Pontifical Council «Cor Unum»
Account Number: 603035
Bank: Banco Posta, Poste Italiane S.p.A.
Bank Address: Viale Europa, 175; I-00144 Rome, Italy
BIC-SWIFT Code for Poste Italiane S.p.A: BPPIITRRXXX
— Donations in any currency can also be made to:
Pontifical Council «Cor Unum»
Account Number: 101010
Bank: Banca di Roma
IBAN Code: IT93 J 03002 05008 000000 101010
SWIFT Code: BROMITR1204
