25^th Anniversary of Caritas in Georgia and Armenia

 Excellencies,
Dear Presidents of Caritas Georgia and Armenia,
Reverend Fathers and Reverend Sisters,
Partners of Caritas Georgia and Armenia,
Dear Friends of Caritas Georgia and Armenia,

         We have celebrated 25 years of the beginning of Caritas Georgia and Armenia.  Caritas Georgia and Armenia are members of the Caritas Internationalis, a charitable organization of the Catholic Church, founded in 1897.  Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of over 165 Caritas agencies working in over 200 countries and territories around the world. Indeed, Caritas Internationalis is over two times larger than the Red Cross, Red Crescent and the Star of David all rolled up into one.

         In May 2019, over 300 delegates of the Caritas International Member Organizations gathered in Rome for its 21^st General Assembly and the theme of the meeting was “One human family, one common home”.  Pope Francis met with the delegates and offered some timely thoughts about what Caritas is, its identity, its engagement in the world and its presence in society. Pope Francis encouraged all co-operators of Caritas, to be mindful of three very important concepts about our work at Caritas:  1) charity, 2) integral development and 3) communion.

The Holy Father reminded us that the charity that Caritas seeks to offer “has its essence in God himself”.  Charity must be more than providing a service.  Pope Francis insists that if we considered charity a mere human service, then the Church – and Caritas Georgia and Armenia – would become a mere humanitarian agency and its service of charity would merely become a ‘logistics department’.”  Hence, Pope Francis insists that the charity provided by Caritas must be more than a service.

Secondly, Pope Francis stressed that Caritas and the charity it provides must be rooted in integral development of the human being. This is our response, this is our antidote to the “throw away culture of indifference” in today’s society.  Your faith,  your sense of God (whether you profess being Catholic, Apostolic, Orthodox, Protestant or any other denomination…) has to be at the center of our work here at Caritas Georgia and Armenia.  Pope Francis stressed how “the worst discrimination from which the poor suffer is indeed the lack of spiritual attention…” The “needy” need God… “and we at Caritas cannot fail to offer them God’s friendship, God’s Blessing, God’s Word.”

Finally, Pope Francis invited us to think of how charity and communion go together.  “Communion in Christ and in the Church animates, accompanies and sustains the service of charity”.  Communion is in a “visible faith in action”.  That common action becomes an instrument of communion.  Our communion comes from working together to make a better world. Hence, charity and communion go together.

Caritas Georgia and Armenia cannot exist without doing charity. Charity has to be open to anyone in need. Charity is always a loving relationship with the needy.  Charity involves the heart, the soul and our whole being.  Cartas is not an entity for philanthropy.  It is more! It brings the resources and the prayers of Roman Catholic Faithful from throughout the world to meet each individual that Caritas assists. Caritas sets to encounter Christ when we meet Him in the poor.  Indeed, when governments or financial institutions assist specific Caritas projects, it is because of this catholic spirit of charity. Hence, here in Georgia and Armenia, Caritas is the love of the Catholic Church in action, outreaching to those in need no matter their creed, colour or race.

As we celebrate 25 years of service in Georgia and Armenia, we should be dually mindful of the legacy of Caritas. Caritas was here soon after Georgia and Armenia regained their independence.  Its service was unquestionably enhanced with the presence of dedicated religious congregations and people of good will. Before it was formally established in this region, Caritas was involved in the aftermath care of victims of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. Caritas was in the forefront offering assistance when war broke out in 2008 in Georgia.  Caritas is a home, a workshop and a meeting place for children and youth, often challenged by life, giving them new meaning, new skills, new opportunities and above all new hope. Caritas is in the forefront in health care and home care assistance. Today Caritas is a leader in various fields of healthcare assistance, setting nationwide standards and answering to today’s social challenges and needs.  Caritas has been the outstretched hand to those in need.

May the good Lord continue to bless Caritas Georgia and Armenia and guide you in your decisions and engagements, in supporting the most needy amongst us.

Thank you.

+José A. Bettencourt

Apostolic Nuncio to Georgia and Armenia