December 27, 2010. One of the most painful catastrophes of 2010 struck the Republic
of Haiti on the 12th of January, just after 4 pm. It was
at this time that a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the Caribbean nation
and eventually killed 200,000 people.
The epicenter of the quake was just 9.3 miles from Port-au-Prince.
Benedict XVI immediately expressed his solidarity with the victims
and mobilized all the institutions of the Catholic Church to offer
them rapid and efficient assistance.
Benedicto
XVI
January
13, 2010“The
Catholic Church will not hesitate to act immediately through its
charitable institutions to meet the immediate needs of the
population.”
In Rome, Benedict XVI visited the
city's main synagogue, in a gesture of solidarity and peace to the
Jewish people. Just 24 years ago, John Paul II was the first pope to
enter into a synagogue.
It was actually Benedict XVI's third
time to visit a synagogue. The Pope's visit was viewed as positive by
the Chief Rabbi of Haifa, Israel.
Shear Yashuv Cohen
Rabbi of Haifa“I was
present with my colleagues of the Committee on the days during the
visit to express our desire to accept the hand that is fresh out to
be friendly and affection and good relationship with us.
It's a visit that will be
remembered as a historical meeting, between the two primary religious
communities of the Eternal City.
EF/SC
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