Card Rodríguez Maradiaga re-elected Caritas President

The Caritas federation General Assembly continues here in Rome, with three hundred representatives from Caritas member organisations from around the world. On Tuesday the re-election of Honduran Cardinal Oscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga as president of Caritas Internationalis was approved.

In his quadrennial report to the General Assembly, Card. Rodriguez Maradiaga noted : “In the early days of my term in office, strengthening our identity as Caritas and Church quickly emerged as the fulcrum upon which success depended. Caritas is not simply a non-governmental organisation – it is much more. Caritas is a sign of the love of God for all humanity. It is a love that knows no bounds or boundaries. The name Caritas Internationalis means literally “love between nations”. Caritas gives witness to God’s love among us, a love for all people and especially for the poorest”.

Thursday delegates will approve the election of a new secretary general. The candidates for the position of Secretary General are Michel Roy, director of advocacy for Caritas France; and Karel Zelenka, the Catholic Relief Services country representative for South Africa.

Emer McCarthy spoke to CRS delegate Chris Tucker and Caritas New Zealand delegate Mark Richards about Caritas’ Catholic identity and being at the forefront of the Churches mission to those most in need. Listen: