Saturday, January 10, two days before the 5th anniversary of the earthquake of January 12, 2010, the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in collaboration with the Haitian bishops, organize in the Vatican a conference entitled "The communion of the Church: Memory and Hope for Haiti five years after the earthquake." A conference convened by Pope Francis, who aims to keep the focus on Haiti, which is still suffering the consequences of this tragedy and to remind the proximity of the Church to the people of Haiti in the reconstruction phase.

At that conference will participate nearly 200 participants, representatives of the Holy See, local Haitian Church and several episcopal conferences, but also representatives of Catholic charities, religious congregations and diplomats accredited to the Holy See. This meeting will be especially the opportunity to take stock of aid to Haiti and analyze the status of projects since 2010.

The conference will be opened by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, but especially by Cardinal Robert Sarah, who as president of "Cor Unum" until the end of 2014, managed the donations of the Pope to the Haitian Church.

The first part of the meeting will be devoted to "an overview of the material and spiritual reconstruction process." We expect the speaking of Cardinal Chibly Langlois, Bishop of Les Cayes, and President of the Episcopal Conference of Haiti, of Mgr Thomas Wenski Gerald, Miami Archbishop, Alberto Piatti, President of AVSI (Association of Volunteers for International Solidarity), which manages much of the charitable aid to the island and finally Eduardo Marques de Almeida, who was Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Haiti.

At 11:30 am a hearing is scheduled with Pope Francis and after lunch, in the afternoon, it will be possible to hear the testimonies of those who work on the reconstruction of Haiti, share the international cooperation share experiences and discuss priorities for the future.

On completion of the work, Mgr Giampietro Dal Toso, Secretary of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," will offer a summary of work. The conference will end with a Mass celebrated at 6:30 p.m. in the Church "Santa Maria in Traspontina" by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

The Haitian delegation of 11 members will be back in Haiti on the morning of Monday, January 12.

HL/ HaitiLibre