Pope addresses Caritas Internationalis’ General Assembly
Caritas Internationalis is different from other social agencies because of its ecclesial
nature, sharing in the mission of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI said on Friday.
He was addressing some 300 participants from around the world concluding the 19th
General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis on the 60th anniversary of its foundation.
Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 165 Catholic relief, development and
social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories of the
world. Pope Benedict explained Caritas ecclesial character saying it is guided by
the Church’s Pastors and the Holy See is also responsible for following its activity
and exercising oversight to ensure that its humanitarian and charitable activity,
and the content of its documents, are completely in accord with the Apostolic See
and the Church’s Magisterium, and that it is administered in a competent and transparent
manner. Pope Benedict emphasised the importance of the role played by Caritas internationally
in advocacy in defence of the poor, based on “Catholic teaching and committed to defending
the dignity of all human life” to avoid the “risk of falling prey to harmful ideologies”.
Because of its bonds with the universal Church and the local Churches, Caritas “is
called to help bring the Church’s message to political and social life internationally.”
He called on all Catholics to act with purified consciences and generous hearts in
resolutely promoting what he often refers to as ‘non-negotiable’ values. Caritas
internationalis, the Pope pointed out, “is called to work in converting people’s hearts
to always and everywhere act for the common good, particularly for those in greatest
need. Earlier on Thursday, Caritas Internationalis elected Michel Roy as its new
general secretary. The 56-year-old Frenchman was voted in by a majority of delegates
at the 19th general assembly of the worldwide confederation in Rome. Roy
succeeds Lesley-Anne Knight, who served as the charity's secretary-general from 2007-2011.
Roy is currently the international lobbying and advocacy director for Secours Catholique,
the French affiliate of Caritas. A father of two children and with graduation degrees
in economics and oriental languages from the Sorbonne University of Paris, Roy has
worked for the French charity for 30 years. Speaking to the assembly immediately
after the vote, Roy thanked Lesley-Anne for the work she has done so far, and also
all of Caritas members for their work that reflects the hopes of the poor to build
a better world. Roy will work alongside Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga,
Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, who was earlier re-elected Caritas president for a second
term. Caritas members were in Rome for their 19th general assembly, May 22 to 27.