By Katrina Gracia Consebido
Pope Francis removed the entire leadership of Caritas Internationalis (CI) including Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and appointed Pier Francesco Pinelli as interim administrator to lead CI immediately.
Through the decree’s issuance, members of the Representative Council and the Executive Board, president and vice presidents, the secretary-general, treasurer, and the ecclesiastical assistant will “cease to hold their respective offices.”
According to Cardinal Micheal Czerny S.J, they have “seen the needs of the many whom Caritas serves” which is a call in their charity arm to address those needs, and it is “imperative that Caritas Internationalis be well prepared to meet these challenges.”
The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD) recently had a review of the workplace environment which was composed by a panel of independent experts.
“No evidence emerged of financial mismanagement or sexual impropriety, but other important themes and areas for urgent attention emerged form the panel’s work.”
“Real deficiencies were noted in management and procedures, seriously prejudicing team-spirit and staff morale.”
CI is a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations operating in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. –ag