VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 005   
   DATE 09-01-2015   
      
   Summary:   
   - Francis convokes a conference in the Vatican on Haiti, five years after the   
   earthquake   
   - Audiences   
   - Other Pontifical Acts   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Francis convokes a conference in the Vatican on Haiti, five years after the   
   earthquake   
    Vatican City, 9 January 2014 (VIS) - "The communion of the Church: memory and   
   hope for Haiti five years after the earthquake" is the title of the conference   
   beginning this morning in the Vatican. The event was organised by the   
   Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America   
   in collaboration with the bishops of Haiti, and is a response to the Holy   
   Father's wish to maintain close attention to a country that continues to   
   suffer the consequences of the earthquake, and to reiterate the Church's   
   closeness to the Haitian people during the reconstruction phase. It will above   
   all offer the opportunity to present the balance of aid destined for the   
   country and to analyse the results of the implementation of the projects   
   carried out from 2010 to the present day.   
    In January 2010 the island of Haiti was afflicted by an earthquake, the   
   epicentre of which was located near the capital, Port-au-Prince, causing the   
   death of 230 thousand people and devastated the territory, destroying much of   
   the infrastructure, thousands of homes, and all the hospitals on the island.   
   According to Red Cross estimates, the disaster affected three million people.   
    The meeting is attended by representatives of the Holy See, the local Haitian   
   church, and various episcopal conferences, workers from Catholic charitable   
   organisations, religious congregations and various Holy See-accredited   
   diplomatic representatives. The conference will begin at 9 a.m. in the St.   
   Pius X building with greetings from Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., president   
   of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and a report from Cardinal   
   Robert Sarah who, as president of "Cor Unum" until the end of 2014, managed   
   the Holy Father's donations to the local Church of the island. During the   
   morning session, there will be a debate on the material and spiritual   
   reconstruction process and there will be interventions by Cardinal Chibly   
   Langlois, bishop of Les Cayes and president of the Episcopal Conference of   
   Haiti, Archbishop Thomas Gerald Wenski of Miami, U.S.A., Alberto Piatti,   
   president of the AVSI (Association of Volunteers in International Service)   
   Foundation, engaged in a charitable works on the island, and Eduardo Marques   
   de Almeida, former representative of the Inter-American Development Bank in   
   Haiti. At 11.30 a.m. the delegates present will be received in audience by   
   Pope Francis.   
    In the afternoon, there will be presentations by those who work in the   
   context of reconstruction, to enable an exchange of experiences regarding the   
   issue of international cooperation and the priorities and criteria for future   
   action. At the end of the meeting, Msgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, secretary of   
   "Cor Unum", will give an overview of the problems that still remain to be   
   resolved.   
    The conference will end with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Secretary of State   
   Pietro Parolin in the church of Santa Maria in Traspontina, at 6.30 p.m.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Audiences   
    Vatican City, 9 January 2014 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in   
   audience:   
    - Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the   
   Doctrine of the Faith;   
    - Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the   
   Evangelisation of Peoples;   
    - Cardinal Godfried Daniels, archbishop emeritus of Mechelen-Brussel, Belgium;   
    - Archbishop Julio Murat, apostolic nuncio in Zambia and Malawi.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 9 January 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Msgr.   
   Pietro Milite of the clergy of the diocese of Nocera Inferiore - Sarno, Italy,   
   as prelate auditor of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota. Msgr. Milite is   
   currently promoter of justice of the same Tribunal.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
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