Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "Thank God for the many graces poured out on the Church in the sixty years since the foundation of Caritas Internationalis," was the primary reason cited by the Holy Father Benedict XVI in his speech to the participants at the 19th General Assembly of Caritas internationalis for the 60th anniversary of the foundation. After having outlined the major milestones in its history, the Pope emphasized that "Caritas Internationalis took on a particular role in the heart of the ecclesial community and was called to share, in collaboration with the ecclesiastical hierarchy, in the Church’s mission of making manifest, through practical charity, that love which is God himself. "
Benedict XVI then quoted his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, in which he reaffirmed how critical the witness of charity is for the Church in our day, through such witness "the Church reaches out to millions of persons and makes it possible for them to recognize and sense the love of God, who is always close to every man and woman in need. " He then stressed: " For us Christians, God himself is the source of charity; and charity is understood not merely as generic benevolence but as self-giving, even to the sacrifice of one’s life for others in imitation of the example of Jesus Christ. "
Outlining the characteristics that distinguish Caritas Internationalis, the Holy Father explained that " it differs from other social agencies in that it is ecclesial; it shares in the mission of the Church "; " is basically made up of the various national Caritas agencies... all of them offer an outstanding aid to Bishops in their pastoral exercise of charity. This entails a particular ecclesial responsibility: that of letting oneself be guided by the Church’s Pastors "; "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."; "it is an organization charged with fostering communion between the universal Church and the particular Churches, as well as communion between all the faithful in the exercise of charity. At the same time it is called to help bring the Church’s message to political and social life internationally" ; "it is called to work in converting people’s hearts in openness towards all our brothers and sisters, so that everyone, in full respect for his or her freedom and in the full acceptance of his or her personal responsibilities, may always and everywhere act for the common good, generously giving the best of himself or herself in the service of his or her brothers and sisters, particularly those in greatest need. During the 19th General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis, the position as President for another four year term, Cardinal Oscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa (Honduras) was confirmed; and Michel Roy was elected general Secretary; and Jürg Krummenacher was elected treasurer. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 05/28/2011)
