POPE RECEIVES UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

VATICAN CITY, APR 7, 1999 (VIS) - This morning, immediately following the weekly general audience, the Holy Father received the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Sadako Ogata who then met with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, according to a communique published this afternoon.

The communique continues: ""During the talks, the high commissioner illustrated the tragic data of the humanitarian catastrophe of Kosovo and the measures taken to face it, which were adopted by the summit that the UNHCR called yesterday in Geneva.

"The Holy See, for its part, expressed appreciation for the mobilization by the international community and for the quick assistance given by many countries, groups and individuals, and gave assurance of the solidarity of Catholic humanitarian organizations. Already last week, the Holy Father had sent Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum', to Albania to bring his comfort and to coordinate the efforts of ecclesial organisms."

OP;UN COMMISSIONER REFUGEES;...;SODANO; OGATA;VIS;19990407;Word: 160;