ARCHBISHOP CORDES HOLDS BRIEFING ON TRIP TO MOZAMBIQUE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 14, 2000 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," held a briefing today in the Holy See Press Office on his March 8-13 trip to Mozambique to visit the populace which has been struck by devastating floods in recent weeks.

He recalled that the Holy Father has, on several recent occasions, called the public's attention to this drama, including an appeal for international solidarity during his February trip to Egypt, and another during a Sunday angelus. The Pope, said the archbishop, "asked for help for the population of this country, which is one of the poorest of the poor African continent."

The president of Cor Unum remarked that it was missionaries and members of Caritas International who first assisted the flood victims, well before the government stepped in with aid. He stated that there are about 20 religious institutes in the country.

Observing that about 2 million people were affected by the flood, mainly on the vast plains of the savannah, he said that "it seems that all survivors were rescued. This was not easy to do because Mozambique is about twice the size of Italy and the population is widely scattered."

He said the delegation visited two refugee camps where the people seemed "listless, without reacting, in a state of shock." One nun told him that "these days caused more traumas than did many years of civil war." He pointed out the great need for medicines, food, water, and lines of communication and said that "the heroic commitment" of the missionaries who are helping these people "deserves all of our support."

Archbishop Cordes listed many examples of tragic stories and as many examples of generosity, including a Spanish benefactor who loaned a helicopter for rescue efforts: it had a capacity for 7 people, but one day 45 people travelled in it on one flight, "placing their trust in the Lord," said the archbishop.

Calling his trip "a positive experience," he said he was well received as the Pope's delegate "because the Pope is considered as a father of the people, not only of Christians; he is ... one who places himself above feelings of fear and inferiority. ... Catholicism is called by the people of Mozambique 'the religion of the Pope' and the churches are called 'the churches of the Pope'."

OP;MOZAMBIQUE;...;CORDES;VIS;20000314;Word: 380;