Tagle reelected as head of Caritas Internationalis

The cardinal was elected at the CI headquarters in Rome during the General Assembly of the global confederation of Catholic charities which started on May 23 until May 28. (File Photo by Lorenzo Atienza via The Manila Cathedral/Facebook)

MANILA — Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle was elected anew as the President of Caritas Internationalis (CI).

“Congratulations to our beloved Luis Antonio Cardinal G. Tagle, for his re-election as the President of Caritas Internationalis!” the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Manila, the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said in its Facebook account NASSA/Caritas Philippines on Friday.

The cardinal was elected at the CI headquarters in Rome during the General Assembly of the global confederation of Catholic charities which started on May 23 until May 28.

The meeting, which is being held every four years, will elect a new secretary general, treasurer, and other senior officials.

Likewise, the gathering will outline and design the confederation’s strategic direction for the next four years.

Tagle was first elected to head Caritas in 2015, making him the first president from Asia. His reelection comes as the Vatican is making significant efforts to take a lead in environmental protection.

As president of the Caritas Internationalis, he will travel around the world to deliver speeches, including visits to disaster areas and conflict zones.

The head of the Archdiocese of Manila, together with 31 other prelates from Metro Manila and northern Luzon, are also currently in Rome for their ad Limina visit, which is the periodic visit to the Vatican required of each residential bishop.

They will be reporting on the developments in their respective archdioceses and dioceses and on the programs of the local Church.

The CI is a confederation of 165 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide.