Friday, March 04, 2011

New Caritas CEO must strengthen ‘Catholic identity’

The Vatican believes that its top aid agency, Caritas Internationalis, needs new leadership to build a stronger Catholic identity within the organisation.

“I think that each of us has limits. We can be competent in organising but lack some qualities for co-ordinating work or for reinforcing the Catholic identity,” said Cardinal Robert Sarah, who oversees the agency’s work through his role as president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, in reference to current Caritas secretary-general Lesley-Anne Knight, CNA reports.

The Rome-based Caritas recently announced that the Vatican would not permit Knight to run for re-election to the position this May.

Cardinal Sarah said: “we must recognize the work accomplished by Mrs Knight, but for today’s new challenges we need someone else.” 

He added that it is “normal that for new challenges other people are chosen that the confederation presents.”