Pope Francis, Caritas International | The papacy moves forward with reforms

By decree (motu_proprio/documents/20221121-decreto-caritas-internationalis.html”>motu proprio) dated November 21 and published today in the Vatican, Pope Francis has decided to remove all those in charge of Caritas International (CI) (president, vice-presidents, members, board of directors, general secretary, treasurer and ecclesiastical assistant) and the Italian layman Francesco as “temporary administration”. Pinelli presided Extraordinary Commissioner responsible for intervention, “with all the powers of the Government”. It includes the power to abrogate the laws of the company “if it thinks convenient or necessary”.

Caritas International is a confederation of 162 social assistance missions of the Catholic Church distributed throughout the world, in 200 countries. According to its latest annual balance, Caritas received 5.1 million euros and distributed 4.4 million euros in 2020. Francisco’s decree recalls the work of Caritas. “Help the poor and needyTo participate in the management of humanitarian emergencies and to cooperate in spreading charity and justice in the world in the light of the Gospel and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

The Pope decided after an internal audit It was appointed earlier this year by the Integrated Human Development Service (DSDH), which has all powers over Caritas under the new Apostolic Constitution. Proclaim the gospel, George Bergoglio took effect last June. The investigation carried out by a team led by Pinelli -now controller-, in which psychologists Enrico Parolari and Francesca Busnelli participated, “aimed at evaluating the “working environment” at the Secretariat, in accordance with Catholic values. Human dignity and respect for each person.” Aloysius Jahn, the director-general from India, who was elected to his post in 2019 and has now been removed, is the main target. During the audit process, in addition to the officers, a large number of current and former employees of the Catholic organization were consulted.

In a statement issued alongside the pontifical decree, the DSDH confirms the inquiry “No evidence of financial impropriety or inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature has emerged, but other important issues and areas of urgent attention were evident. The same report said, “Deficiencies were found in administrative procedures, which also had a negative effect on the morale and morale of the staff.” As the Vatican Department stated, the Pontifical Decree “It has no impact on the operations of the member organizations and the charitable and supportive services they provide to the worldBut “on the contrary, it will help strengthen it,” the report highlights.

For the best performance of his work, Francisco said, “it seems necessary to review the current regulatory structure (of Caritas), adapt it to the legal activities of the company, as well as prepare it during the elections. The next General Assembly”. Pope says everything is finished “with a firm will in favor of a plan to renew the institution.”

Pinelli, the designated interventionist, is an Italian engineer who has worked as a volunteer with people affected by drug addiction, in development cooperation, and in catechism and missionary work. In her work, María Ambaro Alonso Escobar, a Spanish economist with a degree from the University of Extramadura (Spain), has worked in 14 African countries in her country and internationally on human rights, development projects, communication and management. The ecclesiastical assistant of the intervention was the Portuguese Jesuit priest Manuel Morujão, who worked in Cape Verde and was the Jesuit manager in Portugal.

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