Cardinal calls for renewal of Caritas Internationalis

Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga at opening session image: Elodie Perriot/Caritas

The President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, Cardinal Robert Sarah, has called for the renewal of the Caritas confederation "in a spirit similar to that of the Church during the Second Vatican Council". The Cardinal was speaking on Sunday, during the opening ceremony of Caritas' General Assembly in Rome.

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga SDB, President of Caritas Internationalis, welcomed 300 delegates from more than 160 Caritas member organisations, including 50 bishops, as well as representatives from the Holy See, international organisations, diplomats and other faith groups.

Cardinal Rodriguez told delegates: “Poverty is unacceptable as it affects the dignity and equality of the human person and thus the whole human family. One human family - zero poverty is more than just a slogan. It is the summary of our will to fight injustice and poverty. It is a simple expression of our understanding of the world.”

The Caritas Internationalis president outlined the aims of the General Assembly: to agree on how best to reduce poverty, “as an authentic expression of its common mission within the Church: to serve the poor”.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone SDB, Secretary of State for the Holy See, concelebrated the opening Mass. During his homily, he praised Caritas for its work, particularly carried out in the last four years: “Particular gratitude is due for the work carried out in the aftermath of the recent natural disasters in Haiti and Japan, as well as for the ready assistance provided in emergencies resulting from conflicts like those in Côte d'Ivoire and in other situations of war, and from situations of extreme poverty.

“Amid all these painful realities, this worthy Church institution is called to demonstrate, practically and effectively, that the world is one family, the family of the children of God: “One human family, zero poverty”, to echo the theme of the present Assembly.

“To reveal the faces of our brothers and sisters, to help Christians and all people of goodwill to care for their needs as if they were their own, and to demand the full recognition of their dignity: this is the fundamental commitment of Caritas Internationalis, as well as the goal of that renewed relationship with the agencies of the Holy See which I trust will be the result of the present Assembly.”

The General Assembly comes at an important moment for Caritas Internationalis. The confederation’s Statutes and Rules are in the process of being renewed with the Holy See. Caritas delegates will also agree their strategic directions for the next four years, elect the Caritas Internationalis president, treasurer and secretary-general for the next four years and representatives for its board and executive committees.

Full texts of speeches are all online on www.caritas.org

Source: CI