Celebrating the progress of peoples in Latin America

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Populorum Progressio Foundation for Latin America, there will be a special conference held tomorrow (12 December) in Rome at the Il Cantico Hotel.  The title of the conference is 25 years of service for integral human development, looking to the future.  Since it's creation on 13 February 1992 by Saint John Paul II, the Foundation has been entrusted to the Pontifical Council Cor Unum; the Foundation is now part of the pastoral mission of the new Dicastery for Integral Human Development.

In the first session of the conference, after introductory greetings offered by Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery and President of the Foundation, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops introduced some of the elements of the Synod dedicated to Amazonia and to its indigenous people.  He also spoke about the programme for 2019 and welcomed the reflections which will be offered by the Bishops of Latin America who were in attendance.  Among others who will speak is Professor Guzmán Carriquiry, who will present an outline of the Latin American reality today.

On 13 December, the annual meeting of the Foundation's Administrative Council will take place.  During that meeting, the members will discuss the financing of various projects for 2018 in favour of the indigenous, mestizo, Afro-american and peasant communities in Latin America and in the Caribbean.  The meeting will also be an occasion to reflect on a variety of ways to respond to the Foundation's mandate.  On the next day, the participants will meet in audience with the Holy Father.

The members of the Foundation's Administrative Council include: His Excellency, Luis Flavio Abastoflor Montero, Archbishop of La Paz (Bolivia), President of the Administrative Council; His Excellency, Antonio Arregui Yarza, Archbishop emeritus of Guayaquil (Ecuador), Vice-president; His Excellency, Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, Archbishop emeritus of Santo Domingo; His Excellency, Óscar Urbina Ortega, Archbishop of Villavicencio (Colombia); His Excellency, Murilo Sebastião Ramos Krieger, Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia (Brazil); His Excellency, Javier Augusto del Río Alba, Archbishop of Arequipa (Perú); His Excellency, José Luis Azuaje, Bishop of Barinas (Venezuela); and Monsignor Segundo Tejado Muñoz, Under-secretary of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development.

During these 25 years, more than 4,300 projects have been accomplished with the help of the Foundation at a total allocated cost of more than $41 million.  The projects involve local communities and involve various sectors, including agriculture and livestock, crafts and micro-enterprises, infrastructure for potable water, training and educational facilities , health and construction.  Among the major supporters of the Populorum Progressio Foundation are individual participants and particular interest expressed by the Italian Episcopal Conference.