Catholic Relief Services' Executive Director Appointed To Pontifical Council

Catholic Relief Services
Thursday, 14 February 2002

Pope John Paul II has named Kenneth F. Hackett, Executive Director of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), to the Pontifical Council Cor Unum for the Promotion of Human and Christian Development. Hackett's appointment to the council, which works to coordinate the activities of Catholic aid organizations for relief and development projects around the world, was announced at the Vatican on January 31. The appointment is for a five-year term.

"This is a great honor, and I am pleased to represent Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic Church in the United States on this council," said Hackett. "The role of Cor Unum in bringing together Catholic agencies in the spirit of cooperation is vital and helps us all to better serve the poor."

Cor Unum, which means "one heart," was established by Pope Paul VI in 1971 with the mission of expressing "the care of the Catholic Church for the needy, thereby encouraging human fellowship and making manifest the charity of Christ." The council's objectives include assisting the Pope in carrying out special humanitarian initiatives when disasters occur, fostering charity among the faithful and encouraging and coordinating cooperation among Catholic organizations working for human development.

Hackett has been Executive Director of CRS since 1993. He has served as the President of Caritas North America and on the Board of Directors of CIDSE (an international Catholic association that focuses on development issues), the Africa Society and Migration and Refugee Services. He is currently the Chair of the Coalition for Food Aid, a group of 13 private voluntary organizations involved in food aid programs around the world. Additionally, he has served as a member of the International Development Conference and on the International Policy Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Catholic Relief Services is the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Founded in 1943, the agency provides assistance to people in 87 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Catholic Relief Services provides assistance to more than 62 million people on the basis of need, not race, creed or nationality.

For more information, or to contact Catholic Relief Services, see their website at: www.catholicrelief.org