Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 165 Catholic relief, development and social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide.
Collectively and individually their claimed mission is to work to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed. The first Caritas organisation was established by Lorenz Werthmann on 9 November 1897 in Germany. Other national Caritas organisations were soon formed in Switzerland (1901) and the United States (Catholic Charities, 1910).
In July 1924, during the international Eucharistic Congress in Amsterdam, 60 delegates from 22 countries formed a conference, with headquarters at Caritas Switzerland in Lucerne. In 1928, the conference became known as Caritas Catholica. The delegates met every two years until the outbreak of the Second World War when all activities came to a standstill. Work resumed in 1947, with the approval of the Secretariat of State, and two conferences convened in Lucerne to help coordinate efforts and collaboration. Caritas was given a further endorsement when the Secretariat of State entrusted it with the official representation of all welfare organisations at the international level, especially at the United Nations. The Holy Year in 1950 saw the beginning of a union of Caritas organisations. Following a suggestion by Msgr Montini, then Substitute Secretary of State, and later Pope Paul VI, a study week, with participants from 22 countries, was held in Rome to examine the problems of Christian Caritas work. As a result, the decision was made to set up an international conference of Roman Catholic charities.
In December 1951, upon approval of the statutes by the Holy See, the first constitutive General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis took place. Founding members came from Caritas organisations in 13 countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. The Church describes Caritas as its official voice “in relation to its teachings in the area of charity work”.
In 1954, the Confederation changed its name to Caritas Internationalis to reflect the international presence of Caritas members on every continent. As of 2015, the Confederation has 164 members working in over 200 countries and territories. Its General Secretariat is located in the Palazzo San Calisto, Vatican City. The current president is Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and the Secretary General is Michel Roy.
Caritas national and regional agencies
The full membership list of Caritas organisations includes:
45 national agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa
Chad – SECADEV (Caritas Chad) has partnered with the Canadian bishops' Development and Peace program to provide essential aid for Sudanese refugees in Chad, including access to water, financing for small businesses and agricultural projects.Egypt (part of MENA regional agency)Kenya – Caritas Nairobi- operated by the Archdiocese of NairobiNigeria – Caritas Nigeria claims to work with local diocesan Caritas to bring relief to displaced families in the North East region displaced because of attacks by Boko Haram.Uganda – Caritas Uganda (founded in 1970)24 national agencies including:
Bangladesh - Caritas BangladeshCambodia – Caritas CambodiaHong Kong – Caritas Hong Kong operated by the Catholic Diocese of Hong KongIndonesia – Caritas Indonesia – KARINACaritas Bandung – operated by the Diocese of BandungCordia Caritas Medan – operated by Archdiocese of MedanCaritas Keuskupan Sibolga – operated by Roman Catholic Diocese of SibolgaCaritas Keuskupan Agung Semarang – Karina KAS – operated by Archdiocese of SemarangCaritas Tanjungkarang – operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of TanjungkarangIndia - Caritas India claimed in its Decennial Report that the organization invested US$75 million on 14 major emergencies across the country during 2014-2015 period.Japan – Caritas JapanKorea – Caritas KoreaMacau – Caritas de Macau – established the Family Casework & Assistance Service, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Home for the Elderly, St. Luis Gonzaga Center for the Disabled and Institute of Social Work, the first Institute in Macau offering training for social workers.Philippines – Caritas Manila claims a focus on Education, Health, and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management as flagship programs.Singapore – Caritas SingaporeVietnam – Caritas Việt Nam (26 members of the diocesan)MENA regional agency Caritas MONA] with 17 national agencies including:CyprusJordan – Caritas Jordan has taken part in efforts to support displaced Syrians since December 2011 and is still active in addressing the needs of refugees.Lebanon – Caritas Lebanon works through different centers throughout the country, delivering food parcels, hygiene kits and blankets to refugee families from war-torn Syria. There is also medical assistance through mobile clinics and health centers.SyriaCaritas Europa with 48 national agencies including:
Armenia- Armenian CaritasAustria – Caritas OsterreichBelgium – Caritas Catholica BelgicaBosnia and Herzegovina – Caritas Republic of Bosnia and HerzegovinaBulgaria – Caritas BulgariaCroatia – Caritas Republic of CroatiaCzech Republic – Charita Česká republikaDenmark – Caritas DanmarkEngland and Wales – where there are two Caritas agencies: CAFOD and Caritas – Social ActionFinland – Suomen Caritas ryFrance – where the Caritas agency is Secours catholiqueGermany – Caritas DeutschlandGreece - Κάριτας ΕλλάςHungary – Katolikus KaritászIreland – where the Caritas agency is TrócaireItaly – Caritas ItalianaLithuania – Caritas LithuaniaLuxembourg – Caritas LuxembourgMalta – Caritas MaltaMoldova – Caritas MoldovaNetherlands – where the Caritas agency is CORDAIDNorway – Caritas NorgePoland – Caritas PolskaPortugal – Caritas Portugal – Caritas PortuguesaRomania – Confederația Caritas RomâniaRussia – Caritas in the European Part of RussiaScotland – where the Caritas agency is SCIAFSerbia – Caritas Republic of SerbiaSlovakia – Slovenská katolícka charitaSlovenia – Slovenska KaritasSpain – Cáritas EspañolaSweden – Caritas SverigeSwitzerland – Caritas SwitzerlandUkraine - Карітас України (Caritas Ukraine) claims to focus its activities in the sphere of health care – including home care and palliative care; assistance to children and youth, in activities related to migrant processes, and assistance to individuals in crisis situations.North America, Central America and the Caribbean
AntillasCanada – Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (Caritas Canada)Costa RicaCuba – Caritas CubaDominican RepublicEl Salvador – Caritas El SalvadorGuatemala – Caritas GuatemalaHaitiHondurasMexico – Caritas MexicoNicaraguaPanamáPuerto RicoUnited States – Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities USA, Caritas USA, formerly Caritas Christi Health Care6 regional agencies, including:
Australia – Caritas Australia claims involvement in peacebuilding and reconciliation programs in Brazil, Sri Lanka, The Philippines, Papua New Guinea and elsewhere.New Zealand – Caritas Aotearoa New ZealandPapua New Guinea – Caritas PNGCaritas Samoa claims to give assistance to low income families, provides capacity-building initiatives for women, help with the improvement of rural waters supplies, and provides assistance to address needs caused by natural disasters.Argentina – Caritas ArgentinaBolivia – Caritas de BoliviaBrasil – Caritas BrasilChile – Caritas de ChileColombiaEcuador Caritas de EcuadorPerú – Cáritas PerúUruguay – Caritas UruguayVenezuela – Caritas de Venezuela
