Papal donations to help victims of war, disaster top $1.6 million

Published: 2004-04-08

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Using monetary gifts he received from individuals, religious orders and dioceses, Pope John Paul II designated $1.68 million for emergency disaster relief and development aid in 2003. More than $240,000 was used to help the victims of war in Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria and the Congo, according to figures published in the April 7 edition of L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper. The Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," which promotes and coordinates charitable giving, handles the distribution of the aid. "The charity of the pope in 2003" also included donations of $243,000 to help the victims of flooding in Argentina, Bolivia, Fiji, Guatemala, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

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