VATICAN CITY, JAN. 21, 2001 (ZENIT.org).-
John Paul II expressed his concern for the people affected by the recent earthquake in Central America by sending one of his closest collaborators to visit the region to offer financial aid.
Archbishop Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council «Cor Unum,» will travel to El Salvador on Tuesday with a papal donation of $100,000, the Vatican Press Office confirmed Saturday. The office said in a statement that the archbishop´s visit is an expression of «John Paul II´s closeness to the affected peoples.»
The German archbishop will meet with some of the affected families, with El Salvador´s bishops and the president of the country, Francisco Flores, and with leaders of institutions cooperating in the rescue effort.
As president of the Pontifical Council «Cor Unum,» Archbishop Cordes´ mission is to support and coordinate the action of Catholic aid institutions worldwide. All Caritas organization around the world are mobilizing to send help to Caritas-El Salvador.
The death toll in El Salvador from the Jan. 13 earthquake has reached 704, according to El Diario de Hoy.
Contributions for relief efforts can be sent to the Caritas-El Salvador fund for assistance at:
Chase Manhattan Bank of New York,
account number 001-1-738747, or
Banca de Comercio de El Salvador ABA 021000021 for the account of Caritas El Salvador 02-03-02510-6; cause — earthquake Jan. 13.
