| EVENTS - The 'Good Samaritan' Foundation |
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Is a Foundation instituted by the Holy Father John Paul II to enconomically help the most needy and abandoned sick people in the world.
RESCRIPTUM EX AUDIENTIA SS.MIDown history the Church of Christ has always sought to carry out the mandate received from Christ himself: “Heal the sick” (Lk 10:9; Mt 10:8). In our times, carrying out this divine instruction, many health-care centres throughout the world are administered by the Catholic Church. With satisfaction, therefore, the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II accepted the proposal of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (for Health Pastoral Care) to promote a Foundation to help in the fight against diseases such as AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, etc., in Africa and also in the other continents of the world. At the audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Secretary of State on 12 September 2004, the Holy Father established the ‘Good Samaritan’ Foundation with its own public, canonical and civil juridical status and its registered offices in the State of the Vatican City. The purpose of this Foundation is to support economically those sick people who are most in need, and in particular those afflicted with AIDS, who ask for a gesture of solidarity-based love towards those who are most abandoned. This Foundation is entrusted to the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (for Health Pastoral Care) and is governed by its own Council of Administration according to the rules and regulations of its Statutes. From the Vatican, 23 September 2004, memorial of St. Pio of Pietrelcina + Angelo Card. Sodano The Statutes of the “Good Samaritan” Foundation“Down history the Church of Christ has always sought to carry out the task received from Christ himself: ‘Curate infirmos’ (Lk 10:9; Mt 10:8). At the present time, carrying out this divine mandate, the Catholic Church manages 113,257 health-care centres throughout the world (Secretaria Status, Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2002, p. 363, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City). This mission has become more intense because of the presence of the terrible epidemic of AIDS, which is associated with other diseases such as, for example, malaria and tuberculosis. The Holy Father, John Paul II of venerable memory, deeply moved by this worldwide calamity, has on innumerable occasions emphasised the commitment of the Church to these brothers and sisters of ours and has exhorted all of us – following the Good Samaritan – to make every effort possible to help them. In the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, he declared: “Now is the time for a new ‘creativity’ in charity, not only by ensuring that help is effective but also by ‘getting close’ to those who suffer, so that the hand that helps is seen not as a humiliating handout but as a sharing between brothers and sisters’ (n. 50). In order to give concrete expression to his wish, John Paul II created a Foundation that wouldbear the name of ‘Good Samaritan’. He thus invited all men and women of good will, and in a special way those of the more economically advanced countries, to contribute to this end.” (Introduction) The new Pope, Benedict VXI, has from the very first days of his Pontificate fully confirmed the “Foundation”, and bestows upon it his Apostolic Blessing (Letter of Card. A. Sodano, May 4, 2005 ). The “Good Samaritan” Foundation was established and created by John Paul II of venerable memory in the State of the Vatican City, with its own public, canonical and civil juridical status. (Article 1, § 1) This autonomous charitable Foundation, has its registered offices at the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (for Health Pastoral Care). The President of the Pontifical Council is also the President of this Foundation as well as its legal representative. (Cf. Art. 1, §§ 2 and 3) As an expression of the solidarity-based and preferential love of the Church for abandoned and least protected people, the Foundation has the aim of helping economically those sick people who are most in need in the world, and in a special way those who suffer from HIV/AIDS. (Cf. Art. 2) The Foundation is empowered to receive donations, bequests and real property and the administration of its assets is entrusted to its own Council of Administration, which is located at the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (for Health Pastoral Care). (Cf. Art. 3) SITUATION OF THE PANDEMIC IN THE WORLDIn 2002 there were about 14,000 new infections every day -More than 95% in developing countries -2,000 children under 15 years of age -Approximately 12,000 adults (between 15 and 49 years of age) -of these about 50% are women -approximately 50% 0f 15 to 24 years of age. Escalation of the Pandemic
Difference: In 2004 there were 4,500,000 more new infections than in 2001 Rate of increase: 8.75 Deaths due to HIV/AIDS every day: 8493 6 people die of AIDS every minute . Status of the Spread of AIDS in the World
Contributions, donations and bequests toThe “GOOD SAMARITAN” Foundation May be sent: A. By “International Cheque,” made out to Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, president of the “Good Samaritan” Foundation, Vatican City. B. By “Bank Transfer,” to the current account of the “Good Samaritan Foundation, Vatican City,” at the Vatican Bank Istituto per le Opere di Religione (IOR): for US $ use account n. 14825.007 and for Euro use account n. 14825.008. C. Postal money order made out to the “Pontificio Consiglio per la Pastorale degli Operatori Sanitari, Città del Vaticano,” specifying the “motive” as “Good Samaritan Foundation, for AIDS patients.” The Council of Administration of the Good Samaritan Foundation receives, studies and approves the projects. Its offices are at the “Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care” The Offices are on: Via della Conciliazione 3, Roma |
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