Vatican City, Jan 19, 2005 / 22:00 pm
A speech given by Archbishop Celestino Migliore to the United Nations General assembly was published today regarding relief efforts in the areas devastated by the tsunami of December 26th.
Archbishop Migliore, who is the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations, gave the speech on January 18th in New York regarding Item 39, Strengthening the Coordination of Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance of the United Nations, Including Special Economic Assistance: Draft Resolution.
The archbishop expressed "deepest condolences to the concerned countries," and noted that "since the very start of the emergency, His Holiness Pope John Paul the Second has expressed his deepest sympathy.”
He has committed the agencies of the Catholic Church to act in a genuine gesture of solidarity to all people without exception in each nation touched by this enormous tragedy."