During a recent trip to Europe, Bishop Gérald Caussé visited two refugee shelters in Berlin, Germany’s capital. The native of France serves as Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“My heart reaches out in gratitude to those who have so generously given of their time and resources,” Bishop Caussé said. “Visiting these facilities was an opportunity to learn first-hand how donations by members of the Church help to provide much needed care and services. I was very impressed by the able staff and committed volunteers of our partner organizations.”
- Presiding Bishop visits refugee shelters in Berlin
- Presiding Bishop visits refugee shelters in Berlin
- Presiding Bishop visits refugee shelters in Berlin
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The visits gave insights about what additional supplies may be needed for future refugee aid projects, Bishop Caussé said. As he met with some of the residents, he shared a few words of encouragement.
The International Congress Center at the Messe Berlin, a convention and fair trade center in Berlin, has recently been converted into a housing facility for refugees and was Bishop Caussé's first stop while visiting refugees. This shelter is one of the first places where many refugees in Germany arrive and where they begin their application process for asylum. He then visited another facility in the Neukölln district of Berlin.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is continuing its efforts to partner with international and local humanitarian organizations to tend to the needs of refugees residing in Europe. The Church has already helped with numerous refugee projects and is actively engaged in many more.
Many of the refugees have arrived in Europe with no belongings and need basic clothing and hygiene items while they wait for asylum. Most recently, collecting winter clothing and appropriate distribution has been of focus.
The Presiding Bishopric consists of three men, the Presiding Bishop and his two counselors, who comprise one of the presiding councils of the Church. The Presiding Bishopric is responsible for the temporal affairs of the Church. Among others, these include involvement in receiving, distributing, and accounting for offerings and contributions and the administration of programs to assist the poor and needy.
In October 2015, Gérald Caussé became the 15th presiding bishop in the Church's history. He is the third presiding bishop born outside the United States and the first for whom English is a second language. He was born in Bordeaux, France, on May 20, 1963.