'The man who leads the world's biggest charity ...'

Cardinal Paul Cordes, the President of the Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum', is visiting Great Britain at the invitation of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

He flew from Rome on Sunday, 6th April 2008 and, after a slight delay at Heathrow's Terminal 5, arrived for Mass at 3:00 pm at St George's Cathedral. Bishop Paul and Canon James Cronin, Cathedral Dean, were among the concelebrants at the Mass which was offered for members of the Neocatechumenal Way.

During his homily, Cardinal Cordes, who is very close to Pope Benedict and knows his thinking, said that the Pope always holds most dear the importance of the personal relationship that exists between a person and Jesus.

Canon James Cronin thanked the Cardinal for celebrating Mass at the Cathedral.

The Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum', which has been called 'the world's biggest charity' is the Office of the Holy See that is charged with implementing the charitable intentions of the Holy Father.

Cardinal Cordes was appointed President of the Council in 1995 and was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI at the consistory in November 2007. He has visited Russia, Poland, Austria, Spain and India to promote the Council's work and will speak to the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales during its meeting at Hinsley Hall in Leeds (7th - 10th April 2008). He will also meet representatives of the Church's charitable agencies and will give an address at Maryvale Institute on the Holy Father's Encyclical Letter 'Deus Caritas Est'.