ARCHBISHOP CORDES LEAVES FOR MOZAMBIQUE TOMORROW

VATICAN CITY, MAR 8, 2000 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," will visit Mozambique from March 9 to 12 in order to give assurance of John Paul II's "spiritual closeness" to the people affected by the recent floods.

On Friday March 10 in Maputo, Archbishop Cordes will meet members of foreign aid organizations who collaborate with Mozambique Caritas to save those stricken by thirst and disease. On the same day he will also meet governmental authorities.

On Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12, Archbishop Cordes will visit the areas affected by the disaster: Xai-Xai, Inhambane and the area south of Beira and north of Maputo. He will present a donation from the Pope and the Committee for the Great Jubilee.

Caritas organizations in various countries have sent, thus far, $1,650,000 to help the people of Mozambique.

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