Bishop John Arnold appointed president of Caritas Europa
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We’re delighted to learn that our chair of trustees, Bishop John Arnold, has been appointed president of Caritas Europa, the network of Caritas organisations on the continent of Europe working with people to end poverty and promote the dignity of all people. Bishop John will continue as chair of our trustees when his new role begins next year.
With members right across continental Europe, Caritas Europa is a partnership organisation that strives – as we do here at Caritas Salford – to ensure that people are at the heart of policies and decisions, and to enable actions which mean all people can play a meaningful role in society. Caritas Salford is an independent diocesan charity and a member of the Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) in England and Wales. CSAN and CAFOD together represent England and Wales within Caritas Europa.
Partnership and solidarity are fundamental to Catholic Social Teaching, and the human dignity of each and every person we work alongside underpins all of our work.
Working alongside organisations with a shared mission helps to strengthen our collective voice, share learning and resources and support meaningful change locally, nationally and internationally. Most importantly, it helps improve the lives of people experiencing poverty, homelessness, displacement and disadvantage. That’s why we’re so pleased that Bishop John has been appointed in this new role.
Global decisions shape local realities.
Many of the challenges we see in Greater Manchester and Lancashire are connected to wider economic, social and political pressures. While these issues affect communities differently, we are not separate from one another and neither are the challenges people face.
Caritas means love in action and, inspired by (and rooted in) Catholic Social Teaching, we work alongside people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire who often come to us at a time of extreme difficulty in their life. It’s really important that we walk alongside them, supporting and empowering them to navigate the challenging times they are experiencing, as they transform their own lives for the long-term.
As Pope Leo XIV said in his first apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te: “The dignity of every human person must be respected today, not tomorrow.”
As more people find themselves experiencing poverty, homelessness or displacement, adults and children in our area are facing situations they never imagined they would find themselves in – unable to have a secure, safe place to call home; they have difficulty feeding their children each day or keeping them clean and clothed. They’re difficult choices to have to make every single day, and showing love and kindness, empathy and compassion goes a long way. The people we work alongside are not statistics. They are individuals and families with hopes, strengths and dignity, often facing extraordinarily difficult circumstances.
Every person deserves to live a happy, healthy and secure life, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with Bishop John, supporting people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, and as he takes on his important new role too.