ASIA/MACAO - 97-year old Father Luis Ruiz Suarez passed away, the founder of Caritas Macao, who devoted his life to the people in need

Macao (Fides Service) - "Citizen par excellence who devoted his life to social service for the poor and the weak, giving them warmth and hope": this is how Fernando Chui Sai, Special Administrator of the special Region of Macao defined father Luis Ruiz Suarez, Spanish Jesuit missionary, founder of Caritas Macao who returned to the Father's House the night of July 26, at the age of 97. Civil authorities, community leaders and other Catholic groups fondly recalled father Luis. Mass media in Macao and in the continent widely spoke about his death and remembered his great works. The Spanish Jesuit missionary had arrived in Macao in 1951, a year after the war had ended, and he immediately pledged to assist and help the crowd of immigrants who were in great difficulty, and founded the "Center of Social Service Matteo Ricci". In 1971 the building became part of the diocese of Macao joining Caritas International and became "Caritas Macao". In 1970, he founded a community center for the disabled, and continued to travel across the continent to give service to the lepers and AIDS patients (see Fides 05/06/2004). People who knew him or worked with him said: "The mission is done through specific actions. You see him, you see Jesus himself". (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 28/07/2011)