VATICAN CITY, NOV 13, 2004 (VIS) - In a Chirograph dated September 16, 2004 and published today, Pope John Paul II wrote to Archbishop Youhanna Fouad El-Hage, president of Caritas Internationalis and, "confirming the ecclesial role undertaken by this worthy Confederation and welcoming the explicit request made in this regard," bestowed on Caritas the status of canonical public juridic person, according to Canons 116-123 of the Code of Canon Law:
He also confirmed its "Statutes and Regulation, which must be interpreted in the light of what has been set forth in this Chirograph. Every change in them must be confirmed by me, as must the eventual transfer of the main office, which currently is in Rome." He added that a list of candidates to the offices of president and secretary general must be submitted for approval by the Pope, before being voted on by the General Assembly. The Holy See will name the ecclesiastical assistant.
"I entrust to the Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum' the duty of following and accompanying the activity of Caritas Internationalis, both in the international sphere as well as in the regional groups. The council will be duly informed of initiatives by the Confederation at different levels and will participate by right in meetings. ... Caritas Internationalis will submit to the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, before their publication, the texts that it wishes to set forth ."
"In addition," states the Holy Father, "Caritas Internationalis, due to its activity at the international level, above all to international organizations and in those areas of special difficulties in the world, will refer to the Secretariat of State."
Caritas Internationalis describes itself as "a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social services organizations working to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed, in over 200 countries and territories." The inspiration for its founding as a confederation goes back to 1950 and Pope Pius XII. In 1957 the confederation changed its name to Caritas Internationalis.
CHIR/CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS/EL-HAGE VIS 20041115 (330)
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