Caritas – Global Movement Working in Solidarity for a Fairer World
The German Caritas Association is the umbrella organisation for the many diocesan, regional and community Caritas associations, the specialised charity organisations, the central specialised organisations representing charity facilities joined together on the basis of their field of work and the supra-diocesan orders in Germany. Each of these organisations is legally independent and responsible for its own service areas.
But Caritas is more than just organised charity work. The idea of Caritas is alive wherever people help each other in the spirit of Jesus Christ. This work can be done inside or outside church communities, professionally or by volunteers, spontaneously or in a more organised fashion.
Part of a Worldwide Movement
Caritas is a global movement working in solidarity for a fairer world. It is inspired by the example of Christian faith and Catholic social teaching.
Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organisations working to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed, in over 200 countries and territories. Caritas Internationalis is the biggest network of Catholic charities in the world devoted to reducing poverty and campaigning for social justice.
Caritas Europa brings together 48 organisations. They focus their activities on issues relating to poverty and social inequality as well as immigration and asylum both inside and outside the European Union. This network works alongside European institutions, EU member states and many different public and private partners.