LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
TO H.E. MSGR. LOUIS KÉBREAU
ARCHBISHOP OF CAP-HAÏTIEN
AND PRESIDENT OF THE BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF HAITI
FOLLOWING THE EARTHQUAKE WHICH DEVASTED THE COUNTRY

Archbishop Louis Kébreau of Cap-Haïtien,
President of the Bishops' Conference of Haiti

Having learned with extreme sorrow of the earthquake that has just severely hit the country's capital, I wish to assure you, as well as all the faithful of the Church in Haiti of my deep spiritual closeness and my fervent prayer for all those affected by this disaster. I ask God to welcome into the peace of his Kingdom all who have died in the earthquake, and especially Archbishop Serge Miot of Port-au-Prince, who has shared in the plight of so many of his faithful, including priests, consecrated persons and seminarians. In these dark hours, I invoke Our Lady of Perpetual Help so that she may be a tender Mother who knows how to direct hearts in order that solidarity will prevail over loneliness and the each-for-himself approach.

I acknowledge the extremely rapid mobilization of the international community, unanimously moved by the lot of the Haitians, and likewise that of the whole Church which through her institutions will not fail to make her contribution to the emergency aid and to the patient rebuilding of the devastated areas.

As a pledge of affection and spiritual comfort, I wholeheartedly impart a special Apostolic Blessing to all the pastors and faithful of the Church in Haiti who are living through this ordeal.

From the Vatican, 16 January 2010