He Pope Francisco has received this noon in audience the General Council of Cáritas Española on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its foundation. During the meeting, which took place in the Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father recalled that “Charity, Love with a capital letter, is the most essential trait of the human being and therefore the language that most unites us.”
“If Christ calls us to communion with God and with our brother, your effort is aimed precisely at reconquering that unity that is sometimes lost in individuals and communities,” he said. In his brief congratulatory message, Francisco reflected on the main challenges that the institution has faced in these three quarters of a century: “to work from the capacities and potentialities accompanying processes”, “to carry out significant actions” and “to be a channel of action of the ecclesial community”.
“Lay down one’s life”
Regarding the first of these challenges, the Pope indicated that “it is not the results that move us”, but rather “put ourselves in front of that person who is broken, welcome them and open paths of restoration for them, so that they can find themselves.” , being able, despite his limitations and ours, to find his place and to open up to others and to God”. “The only time it is legal to look a person up and down is to help them up,” he stressed.
In relation to the effort of Caritas to “carry out significant actions”, the Holy Father invited to “give one’s life”, since Charity is not about “gestures that seek to get out of trouble”, but to offer people “a door open to a new life. “The Lord proposes us to be the leaven of a kingdom of justice, love and peace”, he pointed out.
Regarding the mission of Cáritas to “be a channel for ecclesial action”, Francisco recalled that Charity “is not simply an orderly management of resources, or a space in which to discharge the responsibility of this delicate ecclesial mission”, but to be “That outstretched hand that is Christ when we offer it to those who need us, and at the same time allows us to hold on to Christ when He challenges us in the suffering of our brother.”
“Example of Solidarity”
The president of Cáritas Española, Manuel Breton, thanked Francis for his “example of solidarity, fight for justice and care for our common home.” “Once again I want to thank you on behalf of all of us who make up Cáritas Española for your commitment to continue encouraging and maintaining our institution,” he said.
Bretón expressed gratitude to the Holy Father for his “support” for “all the people who come to Cáritas in search of a better life, for those who do not get it and those who, far from the borders of our country, continue to fight to achieve conditions that allows them to cover their basic needs”.
In his message, he recalled that throughout these 75 years, Cáritas has had to face difficult times. “We have had to adapt, like the entire world, to the aftermath of a pandemic and a war close to the gates of Europe, without forgetting all those that are still open in the world,” he added.
Despite a scenario of increasing instability, Bretón recalled that “the hope, tenacity, faith and unconditional support of the bishops, institutions, private donors and companies have been a great incentive to try to live up to the trust placed in Cáritas, as a Church in its socio-charitable action”.
Omella, together with the General Council
Present at the audience were the president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, the Cardinal Juan José Omella; the president of the Episcopal Subcommittee for Charitable and Social Action and bishop responsible for Cáritas, Monsignor Jesus Fernandez; the vice president Enrique Carrero; the general secretary, Natalia Peiro; the episcopal delegate Vincent Martinand the presidents of the regional Cáritas of Andalusia, Aragon, the Canary Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, the Basque Country and Navarra, the Valencian Community and Murcia.
Along with them were also the councilors by episcopal designation, the president of the San Vicente de Paul Association and the directors of the Cáritas Castrense and the diocesan organizations of Barcelona, Madrid, Burgos and Málaga, as well as those responsible for the Cooperation areas. , Communication, Administration, Social Action, Institutional Development and members of the President’s Cabinet.
Cáritas Española is the official confederation of charitable and social action entities of the Catholic Church. Established in 1947 by the Spanish Episcopal Conference, its purpose is to carry out charitable and social action, through its confederate members.
The 70 Diocesan Caritas distributed throughout Spain promote the integral development of individuals and towns, especially the poorest and most excluded. It develops its action thanks to public and private financing, transforming these contributions into valuable figures, those that speak of development, justice and hope.
During the year 2021, Cáritas invested a total of 403,158,987 euros, of which 69% came from private contributions from donors, participants, companies, institutions, social economy entities and inheritances and legacies, while the remaining 31% resulted of contributions from public administrations.
