The Vatican has joined 30 other states in contributing funding to help preserve the site of the former Auschwitz death camp.

An announcement Monday on the website of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Museum said the Vatican will contribute $135,000 to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, which aims to raise $162,000,000 to preserve the authentic remains of the former Nazi death camp located in southern Poland.

Considering the significance of the goal of the Foundation and the support it received from the Polish government, the decision to send support in the amount of 100 thousand Euro has been taken. This sum is so modest due to the limited possibilities. However, this is an expression of full support for the project of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, read a letter from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, quoted in the announcement.

The announcement said that so far, 31 countries, including the Vatican, have pledged more than $129,000,000 to the Foundation.