Caritas Internationalis

international organization
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Also known as: Caritas, Caritas Catholica
Quick Facts
Latin:
“Love Between Nations”
Formerly:
Caritas and Caritas Catholica
Date:
1897 - present
Headquarters:
Vatican City
Areas Of Involvement:
Roman Catholicism
charity

Caritas Internationalis, international confederation of Roman Catholic charitable organizations and international groups dedicated to promoting peace, economic justice, and human welfare. In the early 21st century its membership included more than 160 organizations active in more than 200 countries. Headquarters are in Vatican City. Originally known as Caritas, the organization was founded in Germany in 1897 by a young Roman Catholic priest, Lorenz Werthmann, to provide social welfare services to the poor and disadvantaged. Similar groups soon formed in other countries. International coordination efforts led in 1924 to the creation of a regular conference of national Roman Catholic social welfare ...(100 of 314 words)