Brussels, 17 November 2009 - Chief executives and managers of Caritas organisations in Europe are gathering today and tomorrow at the Caritas Europa 4^th Management Forum to discuss the role and identity of Caritas on the national level. This year's Forum is hosted in Paris by Caritas France (Secours Catholique).

During the event, participants will look closely at different practices and models of collaboration that can inspire organisations and managers to work more effectively. They will also reflect on Pope Benedict XVI’s call on Caritas to achieve a professional management of the Caritas organisations while embodying spirituality, as reflected in the Holy Father’s recent encyclicals Deus Caritas Est and Caritas in Veritate.

This reflection will follow upon previous achievements such as the adoption of a set of Common Management Standards and the paper “Caritas – A Sign of God’s Love for Humanity”.  In a letter addressed to all participants, Caritas Europa President, Mr. Erny Gillen says “This year’s Management Forum will build on these achievements and allow us to reflect on how they inform the role of the national organization and the identity of Caritas.”

For more information, please contact:
Alan Frisk
Senior Officer for Internal Network
Tel: + 32 235 03 95
Cell: + 32 473 34 13 93
afrisk@caritas-europa.org