Distributing aid to those in need

As previously published, following the tragic events which have taken place in eastern Ukraine, the Holy Father, Pope Francis proposed humanitarian action to assist the people who were affected by war, both residents and refugees in other parts of the country.  The efforts became known as The Pope for Ukraine.

In support of this action, the Pope offered his own personal contribution and called for a collection which was taken on Sunday, 24 April in all the Catholic churches throughout Europe.  The proceeds were intended exclusively for the benefit of populations who are victims of war, without distinction on the basis of religion, faith or ethnicity.

To proceed with the distribution of these funds, the Pope has decided to set up on site a technical Committee composed of a President and four members.  This information was learned from a letter sent recently by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State to His Excellency, Jan Sobiło, Auxiliary Bishop of Kharkiv-Zaporizhia (Ukraine), naming him as the President of this same Committee.

The appointment of the other members will be left to the competence of the President, except for one which will be determined by common agreement with Caritas Internationalis and by the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.  The mandate of the Committee will be for one year, renewable if necessary; the offices will be found in the Curia of the Diocese of Kharkiv-Zaporizhia and workers who will act on behalf of the Committee - either in the central office or in the field - will be volunteers, in order that the fund that has been collected might be used effectively to the benefit of the affected populations.

Some important indications in the Letter concerning the choice of tasks that need to be accomplished include: first of all, proposals must be received by the existing inter-religious or inter-confessional assemblies in each area, or by individual Bishops, even though they may not be Catholic, where there are not such assemblies in existence, but it will also examine proposals from other organizations.

Since this is the Pope's personal initiative, the final arbiters of the project are the Secretary of State and the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, through the Apostolic Nunciature in Ukraine, while the technical oversight of its implementation is confided to the Pontifical Council.