Statement by Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi at the United Nations

(January 28, 2010) The Holy See has called for the solidarity to respond immediately to the requirements of the Haitian people at the time of their urgent need and to place the human rights at the base of a healthy plan of reconstruction, said Archbishop Silvano M. Thomasi, Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations. He was speaking in Geneva on Thursday, 28^th of January, at the 13th Special Session of the Human Rights Council. He said that the world has been shaken by the tens of thousands of deaths, the millions that are left homeless, as a consequence of the earthquake in Haiti. He referred to the immediate appeal of Pope Benedict XVI for concrete action requesting for everyone's generosity, not to let these brothers and sisters, who are experiencing a time of need and sorrow, go without our practical solidarity and the effective support of the International Community. He added that the Catholic Church will not fail to take immediate action through her charitable institutions in order to meet the people's most urgent needs. Countries from all over the world are rushing to aid the quake victims. Many Catholic NGO's have launched rebuilding programs in Haiti. However, the Archbishop added: “the well-meaning and generous international assistance provided to Haiti, in a practical application of the principle of subsidiarity, first of all should offer the Haitian people the capacity to rebuild their needed infrastructures and to assume their political and social responsibility.” He assured that the Church, as an integral part of Haitian society, will continue to actively collaborate in rebuilding the country, by promoting the most basic human rights and by contributing to the health and educational advancement of the Haitian people.