Latin American Catholics continue to show solidarity with Haiti

Lima, Peru, Jan 18, 2010 / 10:58 am

Bishops from Latin America are urging the faithful to offer prayers and financial assistance to earthquake victims in Haiti. 

Last week, the president of the Dominican Republic bishops' conference, Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez sent a letter to Archbishop Louis Kebreau of Cap-Haïtien expressing his nation's sorrow with “everything Haiti is suffering.”

The president of Caritas Peru, Bishop Miguel Irizar, noted last week that “the impact of the disaster has been devastating” and lamented that unofficial statistics indicate “the number of those affected surpasses three million and as many as 100,000 could be dead.” 

Responding to the call by Pope Benedict XVI to help the earthquake-stricken nation, Caritas Peru has launched its own fund-raising appeal, the bishop said.

Last Wednesday at his general audience, the Holy Father invited "everyone" to join with him in prayer for the deceased as he also implored that God provide consolation and relief from suffering to the survivors.

He appealed especially for generosity in giving to "these brothers and sisters who are living a moment of necessity and pain, our concrete solidarity and the proactive support of the international community.”

Also last week, leaders from the bishops' conferences of Costa Rica and Colombia called on Catholics to generously contribute to a Jan. 24 second collection.