Pope buys first bond supporting children's immunizations

Published: 2006-11-07

LONDON (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI was the official first buyer of a multigovernment bond supporting a campaign to immunize 500 million children in the world's poorest countries. Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, picked up the pope's $1,000 bond during a Nov. 7 ceremony in London. Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, U2 singer Bono, singer-relief concert organizer Bob Geldof and leaders of Britain's Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities also participated in the ceremony and purchased bonds from the International Finance Facility for Immunization. The finance facility is an international development funding project supported by the governments of Great Britain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Spain, South Africa and Brazil and by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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