“There is no other person fit to lead the Caritas Internationalis family other than his eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.”
This was the strong statement made by a Caritas Internationalis (CI) representative to the Philippines following Cardinal Tagle’s election as the first Asian President of the confederation of worldwide Catholic charities.
According to Joseph Chacko, leader of the Caritas Internationalis’ Solidarity Team for Emergency Partnership (STEP) currently working on the Catholic Church’s super-typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) response, the appointment of the Cardinal is the fulfillment of Caritas’ goal to serve the poor as what Pope Francis has always been saying.
“I think we have the right person and the right place now to show to the world that we are going to the peripheries and becoming witnesses to serve the poor,” Chacko said.
He also cited the similarities between Pope Francis and Cardinal Tagle, who are both known for their down-to-earth personalities and great love for the poor and oppressed. He also said how this could be an opportunity “to reclaim what Caritas is all about, a commitment to the poor.”
“Advocating the poor, that will be the change the Cardinal will be making,” he said.
Manila Bulletin
