ARCHBISHOP CORDES TO TRAVEL TO EL SALVADOR

VATICAN CITY, JAN 20, 2001 (VIS) - As announced in a communique made public today, Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," will travel to El Salvador on Tuesday, January 23, "to bring the comfort and assistance of the Holy Father to the victims of the earthquake which has struck the country."

Archbishop Cordes, accompanied by Archbishop Giacinto Berloco, apostolic nuncio in El Salvador, will visit some of the families affected by the disaster and, on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 24, will celebrate Mass for the earthquake victims in the cathedral of San Salvador. In a subsequent meeting with Archbishop Fernandez Saenz Lacalle of San Salvador, and other members of the episcopal conference, Archbishop Cordes will present the Pope's gift of $100,000, given as a sign of his closeness to the peoples affected.

Archbishop Cordes will pay a visit the same day to the president of the Republic, Francisco Flores, and to the organizations in charge of aid, disaster clean-up, and reconstruction. A discussion with representatives of the various Catholic organizations which are offering assistance is also planned. Among these are several national Caritas groups and "Manos Unidas," as well as some non-governmental organizations.

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