Pope again appeals for aid to Horn of Africa

October 05, 2011

At the conclusion of his regular weekly public audience on October 5, Pope Benedict XVI made another public appeal for international aid to the millions of people threatened with starvation in the Horn of Africa.

For the third time, the Pontiff called the attention of his Wednesday audience to the "sorely tried brothers and sisters, particularly the children of the region, who are dying every day because of the lack of water and food." He renewed his "heartfelt appeal" to international leaders to provide relief to those in need.

Pope Benedict revealed that Bishop Giorgio Bertin, the apostolic administrator of Mogadishu, Somalia, was in attendance at the Wednesday audience, along with Cardinal Robert Sarah, the president of the papal charity Cor Unum. They are meeting this week with representatives of other Catholic charities--and with other religious leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury--to coordinate relief efforts in the African region.

 

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Further information:

• Appeal for Aid for Famine Victims in the Horn of Africa (VIS)